Tragic Ferry Accident Off Mozambique’s Coast Claims Over 90 Lives

Harare, Zimbabwe (TAE)-More than 90 people, including children, have perished in a ferry accident off the northern coast of Mozambique, as reported by local media. The incident occurred on Sunday when a makeshift ferry, repurposed from a fishing vessel and carrying 130 passengers, capsized between Lunga and the Island of Mozambique in Nampula province. Many of the victims were children, heightening the tragedy of the event.

TV Diário Nampula, a local online outlet, detailed that the overcrowded boat was primarily transporting people who were either heading to a fair or fleeing Lunga amidst fears of a cholera outbreak, which has recently plagued the region. The fear of contamination prompted a desperate rush to the boat, exacerbating the overcrowded conditions that led to the disaster.

Rescue operations continued into Monday, with several passengers still missing and the community in shock. Jaime Neto, the secretary of state in Nampula province, commented on the situation, attributing the high number of passengers partly to misinformation about the cholera situation, which fueled panic and led to the ill-fated rush to board the vessel.

Mozambique, along with neighboring countries Zimbabwe and Malawi, has been grappling with a deadly cholera outbreak in recent months. The lack of accessible transportation options in many parts of Mozambique, coupled with a poor road network, often leaves boats as the only means of transport, leading to frequent overcrowding and similar tragic incidents. Authorities are now faced with dual challenges: managing the aftermath of this maritime disaster and containing the ongoing health crisis in the region.