Ferry Disaster: More Than 100 People Killed, 20 Missing
A ferry accident off the northern coast of Mozambique has left more than 100 people dead and 20 missing. The details behind the tragedy of an overloaded fishing boat and the latest on the ongoing investigation.
Mozambique is in deep mourning after a ferry sinking off the northern coast killed more than 100 people and left nearly 20 others still missing. The sinking of the ferry has plunged the country into mourning, President Filipe Nyusi said on Monday.
An official from the country’s Institute of Maritime Transport (INTRASMAR) said the 130-passenger but overloaded vessel was actually a fishing boat and not licensed to carry people. The tragedy occurred on Sunday when a ferry traveling from Lunga district in Nampula province to Mozambique Island was hit by tidal waves. Initial reports indicate that the vessel was hit by a tidal wave, INTRASMAR director Lourenco Machado said on state television.
Escape from the Cholera Epidemic
According to a statement released by the Nampula State Secretariat, the passengers had embarked on the risky journey to escape the cholera outbreak. While 10 people survived by chance, 20 people are still missing and search and rescue efforts are ongoing.
President Nyusi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and sent the country’s transport minister to Mozambique Island to investigate the incident on the ground. Mozambicans are in mourning as the government promises to assess the situation and take the necessary measures to minimize the impact of the incident.
Painful scene on the beach
Images obtained by Reuters show many bodies lying on the beach and some people carrying the bodies of their children. These images clearly show the scale of the disaster and the human tragedy.
Fighting Cholera
Mozambique and other countries in Southern Africa have been battling cholera outbreaks since last year. According to Mozambique government data, the country has recorded 15,051 cases of cholera since October, resulting in 32 deaths. In Nampula province, 5,084 cases and 12 deaths had been recorded as of Sunday, showing the severity of the health crisis in the region.
This tragedy calls on both the national and international communities to take action and strengthen maritime safety and public health measures in Mozambique. Steps by the government and relevant institutions to prevent such disasters are crucial to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
