A ferry incident off the northern coast of Mozambique on Sunday, April 7 has resulted in the deaths of more than 100 individuals, with President Filipe Nyusi announcing the tragedy on Monday.
Nearly 20 people remain unaccounted for, following the sinking of an overloaded fishing boat, repurposed to transport 130 passengers from Lunga in Nampula province to Mozambique Island.
The vessel, not licensed for passenger transportation, encountered a tidal wave on Sunday, contributing to the disaster. Lourenco Machado, an administrator of Mozambique’s Maritime Transport Institute (INTRASMAR), disclosed on state television that the boat was navigating from an area afflicted by a cholera outbreak. The Office of the Secretary of State for Nampula province noted that the passengers were attempting to escape the health crisis, with 10 individuals rescued from the incident.
President Nyusi has expressed his sorrow over the event and has dispatched the nation’s transport minister to the island to conduct an investigation. The Mozambican Government is set to convene to deliberate on measures to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
Footage circulating shows the grim aftermath, with numerous bodies discovered along the shore.
Mozambique, along with other Southern African nations, is currently grappling with cholera outbreaks, with the country registering over 15,000 cases and 32 fatalities since October. Nampula province, in particular, has been severely affected, recording 5,084 cases and 12 deaths.
This maritime tragedy highlights the ongoing challenges facing Mozambique, including the struggle against the cholera outbreak, which has prompted many to risk their lives in search of safety. The nation has experienced the largest cholera outbreak in 25 years, with more than 43,000 cases reported across 30 districts in seven provinces from September 2022 to January 2023.
Mozambique’s efforts to contain the cholera outbreak have been hampered by inadequate access to clean water and poor sanitation infrastructure. In response, international aid, including a $1.5 million allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund, has been directed towards enhancing health services, as well as water and sanitation facilities in affected communities.
The incident also underscores the precarious conditions under which many Mozambicans live, with limited access to safe transportation and the dire consequences of overcrowding on unlicensed vessels. The Southern African nation, one of the world’s poorest, relies heavily on such boats for transportation, especially in remote areas lacking adequate road, land, and air access.
Authorities continue to search for the missing passengers as the community mourns the loss of life. The government’s response in the coming days will be crucial in addressing the immediate needs of the affected families and preventing future tragedies of this nature.
