Tehran: Iran's official news agency is reporting that 17 people have died after a storm capsized a passenger boat off of the country's southern coast.
The Sunday report by IRNA says the boat sank on Saturday evening while sailing between Hormuz Island and port city of Bandar Abbas on the mainland. Rescue teams saved five passengers, the report said.
The report says the boat began its 11-mile (18-kilometer) journey despite a travel ban on light boats by shipping authorities, due to a storm with winds of 50 mph (80 kph).
Every day dozens of passenger boats travel between Bandar Abbas and nearby islands near the strategic Strait of Hormuz 1300 miles (2100 kilometres) south of the capital Tehran.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 13:56