Tragedy struck off the north coast of Mozambique as an overcrowded makeshift ferry capsized, claiming the lives of over 90 individuals, including numerous children, local authorities confirmed. The ill-fated vessel, a converted fishing boat carrying approximately 130 passengers, encountered distress while en route to an island off Nampula province, officials disclosed on Sunday.
“Due to the boat’s overcrowding and unsuitability for passenger transport, it tragically succumbed, resulting in the loss of 91 lives,” remarked Jaime Neto, Nampula’s secretary of state, highlighting the severity of the situation. He noted the heartbreaking inclusion of many children among the victims.
Rescue efforts, challenged by adverse sea conditions, yielded five survivors, with ongoing search operations aimed at locating additional individuals amidst the wreckage. The catastrophic voyage was fueled by a climate of panic triggered by misinformation regarding cholera, compelling most passengers to flee the mainland, Neto explained.
Mozambique grappling with dire poverty, has witnessed nearly 15,000 cholera cases and 32 fatalities since October, with Nampula bearing the brunt of the crisis, constituting one-third of reported cases.
The region, already grappling with a surge in refugees fleeing jihadist assaults in neighbouring Cabo Delgado province, faces heightened humanitarian challenges.
An investigative team is diligently probing the circumstances leading to the maritime disaster, seeking accountability amid the tragedy’s aftermath. Of the five survivors, two are under medical care in hospital facilities, receiving essential treatment and support.
The ferry’s intended destination was the Island of Mozambique, a historic coral islet synonymous with the country’s colonial past and once a pivotal hub of Portuguese East Africa. Mozambique’s battle against cholera represents its most severe outbreak in a quarter-century, with over 13,700 confirmed cases and 30 fatalities reported since October 2023.
Additionally, the country grapples with the protracted Cabo Delgado insurgency, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced nearly one million individuals since its onset over six years ago.
Mozambique Island, steeped in colonial legacy and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, bears testimony to centuries of maritime trade and cultural exchange, reflecting a bygone era of colonial rule.
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