Tragedy struck off the coast of Mozambique as a boat carrying 130 passengers, mostly women and children, capsized and sank, resulting in the loss of at least 97 lives. The passengers were fleeing from the northern Lunga district to Mozambique Island due to misinformation about a cholera outbreak, seeking healthcare on the small island.
Rescue teams managed to find 12 survivors amidst poor weather conditions, with 91 bodies recovered on Sunday and six more on Monday. The victims, who were fleeing a deadly cholera outbreak that has been plaguing northern Mozambique since January, were in search of medical assistance.
Jaime Neto, the secretary of state in Nampula province, suggested that the boat may have been hit by a giant wave, but also highlighted the overcrowding and unsuitability of the vessel for passenger transport. The misinformation about the cholera outbreak led to the overcrowding of the boat, ultimately resulting in the tragic incident.
Boat travel is a common mode of transportation in Mozambique due to the country’s poor road network. Accidents like this one are unfortunately not uncommon, often caused by the lack of maintenance of vessels or overcrowding.
The search for more survivors continues as the province mourns the loss of those who perished in this devastating event. The bodies of the victims have begun to be buried, as Mozambique grapples with the aftermath of this heartbreaking tragedy.
