Over 90 People Die in Mozambique Boat Sinking
In a devastating incident off Mozambique’s northern coast, over 90 people lost their lives after a makeshift ferry sank on Sunday, according to local media reports.
The ill-fated boat was carrying approximately 130 passengers, including numerous children, who were attempting to cross from Lunga in Nampula province to Mozambique Island.
Reports from local online media outlet TV Diário Nampula revealed that some passengers were en route to attend a fair on the island, while others were fleeing a cholera outbreak.
Jaime Neto, Secretary of State for Nampula, attributed the tragedy to misinformation about a purported cholera outbreak, which led to panic among passengers and overcrowding on the vessel.
“Due to the overcrowding and unsuitability of the boat for passenger transport, it tragically sank,” Mr. Neto stated.
As rescue operations continued into Monday, officials reported that only five individuals out of the 130 on board had been rescued thus far.
Mozambique, alongside neighbouring countries Zimbabwe and Malawi, has been grappling with a deadly cholera outbreak in recent months, with authorities striving to contain its spread.
Since October 2023, Mozambique has recorded 13,700 confirmed cases and 30 fatalities attributed to cholera. Nampula province has been particularly hard-hit by the outbreak.
The northern region has also seen an influx of individuals fleeing conflict in neighbouring Cabo Delgado province, with a surge of violence in February prompting over 33,000 new arrivals.
Additional source: AfricaNews
