ERBIL, Iraq — A raft overloaded with people dressed in their holiday best to celebrate the Kurdish New Year sank in the Tigris River on Thursday, drowning at least 94 men, women and children, Iraqi security and health officials said.

Families in Mosul had thronged onto the raft to take them to an island with a picnic ground and a small amusement park. As they crossed the Tigris, one of the metal cables pulling the raft snapped, and the raft capsized, dumping almost everyone into the water, according to eyewitness accounts.

The water, high and swift because of the spring rains, swept them downstream in a matter of seconds. Videos taken by those on shore show passengers’ heads bobbing briefly above the water.

People on shore rushed to help, said Mosul’s mayor, Zuhair al-Araji.

“The Civil Defense force tried to save everyone they could in cooperation with the aquatic security forces and with fishermen and volunteers,” he said.