Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan'ani on Friday extended condolences over the deaths of dozens of people after their boat sank off the Syrian coast.

With great sadness, I got the tragic news of the deaths of a number of Lebanese and Syrian nationals off the coast of Tartus. I send my condolences to the people and governments of Lebanon and Syria. May God bless the victims, Kan'ani 656wrote in a tweet.

Lebanese officials have confirmed 71 deaths since the bodies were first found off the coast of Tartus on Thursday afternoon.

Syrian officials, quoting survivors, say the boat departed from Lebanon’s northern Mineyeh region on Tuesday with up to 150 people on board, some of them Syrian refugees living in Lebanon. The boat was bound for Europe.

 

 

By IRNA