Tragedy Strikes as Ferry Sinks off the Coast of Mozambique
In a devastating turn of events, more than 90 individuals lost their lives when a ferry sank off the north coast of Mozambique, according to local authorities.
Reports from Nampula province indicate that only five people were rescued out of the approximately 130 passengers believed to have been on board. The passengers were fleeing a cholera outbreak, revealed Nampula Secretary of State Jaime Neto. Tragically, many of the deceased were children.
“Because the boat was overcrowded and unsuitable for passenger transport, it tragically succumbed to the water,” Mr. Neto lamented.
Disturbing video circulating on social media purportedly shows numerous bodies strewn across a beach, painting a grim picture of the disaster.
Initial reports suggest that the ill-fated vessel was en route from Lunga to Mozambique Island, situated off the coast of Nampula, as detailed by Portuguese broadcaster RTP.
Nampula province has been severely impacted by a cholera outbreak that has swept through various countries in southern Africa since January of the previous year.
Unicef has labeled the current outbreak as the most severe in 25 years, with Mozambique reporting 13,700 confirmed cases and 30 fatalities since October 2023.
Meanwhile, a separate crisis looms in neighbouring Cabo Delgado province, where an Islamist insurgency has claimed the lives of over 4,000 individuals and displaced nearly one million since its inception six years ago.
Steeped in history, Mozambique Island served as the capital of Portuguese East Africa for almost four centuries during the colonial era. Recognized as a Unesco world heritage site, the island boasts colonial architecture and a vibrant past as a bustling trading hub. — BBC
