Tragedy Strikes as Unlicensed Ferry Capsizes off Mozambique, Leaving Scores Dead and Missing
A devastating incident has occurred off the northern coast of Mozambique, where an unlicensed ferry boat capsized, resulting in the loss of at least 94 lives, including children, with 26 individuals still missing.
The ill-fated vessel was overloaded with passengers fleeing the cholera outbreak that has been plaguing the East African nation, as reported by state broadcaster TVM.
According to Lourenco Machado, an administrator of INSTRASMAR, the boat was not authorized to transport passengers and was primarily a fishing vessel, as revealed during a televised statement on Monday.
“We witnessed a tragic maritime incident on Sunday, where 94 individuals perished when a barge carrying 130 people capsized. So far, we have recovered 94 bodies, and 26 individuals remain unaccounted for,” Machado stated.
The ferry was en route from Lunga in Nampula province to Mozambique Island when tragedy struck, possibly due to a tidal wave, initial reports suggest.
Jaime Neto, the secretary of state for Nampula province, confirmed that the passengers were fleeing the cholera outbreak, emphasizing the overcrowded and unsuitable conditions of the vessel, which led to its sinking.
“The boat’s overcrowding and lack of suitability for passenger transport led to this tragic outcome,” Neto expressed, noting the heartbreaking loss of many children among the deceased.
