- Over 90 individuals have perished in a devastating ferry incident off Mozambique's northern coast, as confirmed by local authorities.
- Officials in Nampula province reveal that out of approximately 130 passengers onboard the ill-fated vessel, only five have been rescued.
- Unverified footage circulating on social media appears to depict a haunting scene, with numerous bodies scattered across a beach, adding to the tragedy of the ferry disaster.
Officials report that over 90 individuals have lost their lives in a tragic ferry incident off the northern coast of Mozambique, according to local authorities.
In Nampula province, officials stated that only five individuals have been rescued out of approximately 130 passengers believed to have been aboard the vessel. These passengers were reportedly fleeing from a cholera outbreak, as mentioned by Nampula Secretary of State Jaime Neto. He further noted that a significant number of the deceased were children.
Mr. Neto highlighted the overcrowded and ill-suited nature of the boat for passenger transportation, attributing its sinking to these factors.
Unverified footage circulated on social media purportedly depicting numerous bodies strewn across a beach.
The ferry was purportedly en route from Lunga to Mozambique Island, situated off the coast of Nampula.
Nampula province has been heavily affected by the cholera outbreak, which has plagued multiple countries in southern Africa since January of the previous year.
According to Unicef, this ongoing outbreak marks the most severe in 25 years, with Mozambique reporting 13,700 confirmed cases and 30 fatalities since October 2023.
Meanwhile, an Islamist insurgency in neighboring Cabo Delgado province has resulted in the deaths of at least 4,000 individuals and the displacement of nearly one million others over the course of six years.
Mozambique Island held the status of the capital of Portuguese East Africa for nearly four centuries during colonial rule. It currently stands as a Unesco world heritage site recognized for its colonial architecture and storied history as a pivotal trading hub.
