By Gabriella Ogbu
At least 94 individuals have tragically lost their lives in Mozambique following the capsizing of a ferry boat. The incident occurred off the country’s northern coast, leaving 26 individuals still missing, according to officials.
The vessel involved was reportedly an overloaded fishing boat that lacked the proper license for transporting passengers, as stated by Lourenco Machado, an administrator of Mozambique’s Maritime Transport Institute (INTRASMAR), during a broadcast on state television.
Machado confirmed the devastating toll of the tragedy, with 94 bodies recovered thus far. The ferry, which was carrying 130 individuals, capsized while en route from Lunga in Nampula province to the island of Mozambique. Initial investigations suggest that the boat may have been damaged by a tidal surge.
Jaime Neto, the Secretary of State for Nampula, disclosed that the majority of passengers aboard were fleeing the mainland in response to misinformation regarding a cholera outbreak. This sentiment was echoed by another local marine official cited by state station TVM.
According to reports from the BBC, Neto emphasized that the boat’s overcrowding and unsuitability for passenger transport contributed to its sinking, resulting in numerous fatalities, including several children.
Disturbing videos circulating on social media purportedly depict the aftermath of the tragedy, showing numerous bodies strewn along a beach, with adults carrying the lifeless bodies of children. However, the authenticity of these videos has yet to be verified by Reuters.
