editor
A ferry capsized off the northern coast of Mozambique, resulting in the tragic loss of 94 lives, including children, as reported by local media on Monday.
Silvério Nauaito, the administrator of the Island of Mozambique, conveyed to state-run Radio Mozambique that the ferry sank on Sunday afternoon. The initial death toll of 91 climbed to 94 after the recovery of three additional bodies early Monday.
Nauaito disclosed that out of the 130 individuals aboard the ferry, 94 lost their lives, while approximately 11 individuals were hospitalized. He mentioned that there were around three other individuals rescued, but determining the exact number of missing persons proved challenging. Officials were en route to the accident site on Monday to gather more precise details.
The ferry, which operated between Lunga in the Nampula province and the Island of Mozambique, was overcrowded. Reports from TV Diário Nampula, a local online outlet, indicated that many of the victims, including children, drowned when the ferry capsized during its journey.
According to the online outlet, individuals were either traveling to attend a fair or attempting to escape from Lunga to the Island of Mozambique due to concerns about cholera contamination in the region.
Jaime Neto, the secretary of state in Nampula province, was cited in other news reports stating that misinformation regarding a suspected cholera outbreak sparked panic and led people to board a fishing vessel, typically used for fishing, to flee the area.
Authorities in Mozambique and neighboring southern African countries have been making efforts to control a severe cholera outbreak that has been spreading in recent months.
Given that many regions in Mozambique can only be accessed by boats, which are frequently overcrowded, the country’s limited road infrastructure and inaccessible areas by land or air pose significant challenges.
