Maputo: Over 90 individuals perished after a packed makeshift ferry capsized off Mozambique’s northern coastline, according to statements from local officials on Sunday. The tragedy involved a repurposed fishing vessel, which was transporting roughly 130 passengers, encountering difficulties en route to an island near Nampula province.
Jaime Neto, the Secretary of State for Nampula, reported, “The disaster occurred because the vessel was overloaded and not fit for passenger transport, leading to its sinking. Unfortunately, 91 lives were lost.” Neto further mentioned that the casualty list included numerous children. Although rescuers have managed to save five individuals, their search for survivors is hampered by challenging sea conditions. He explained that the majority of those aboard were fleeing the mainland in a frantic response to false cholera rumors.
Mozambique, among the poorest nations globally, has faced nearly 15,000 cholera infections and 32 deaths since October, as per the latest governmental figures, with Nampula being the hardest-hit area. Additionally, the region has seen a surge in arrivals fleeing from the onslaught of jihadist violence in the neighboring territory of Cabo Delgado.
An inquiry into the maritime tragedy is currently underway, as announced by Neto. Among the survivors, two are undergoing medical treatment in a hospital.
The destination of the ill-fated journey was the Island of Mozambique, a historic islet connected to the mainland by a 1960s bridge and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Initially a strategic trading post utilized by Arab traders, the island was claimed by Portugal through the explorer Vasco da Gama, playing a crucial role in the trade routes to India.
Mozambique, a nation with a vast Indian Ocean shoreline and sharing borders with six countries, gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Despite being prone to devastating cyclones and with a significant portion of its over 30 million population living in poverty, Mozambique harbors aspirations for economic upliftment through its substantial natural gas reserves discovered in Cabo Delgado in 2010.
However, the country’s advancement has been hindered by an insurgency linked to the Islamic State group, which began in 2017. This conflict has resulted in over 5,000 deaths and displaced nearly a million people.
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