Over 90 people, including children, lost their life in a terrible incident that occurred on Sunday off the northern coast of Mozambique when a handmade ferry sank, according to local media. In the Nampula province, the boat carrying 130 people had a terrible accident while traveling from Lunga to the Island of Mozambique. While rescue efforts are in progress, some people remain missing.
According to local web publication TV Diário Nampula, children made up a sizable portion of the deceased. The boat overturned due to weight and unfavorable weather conditions. It was overloaded and exceeded its limit. Families in the area have been devastated by the loss of loved ones, and the occurrence has had a profound impact.
Various motives drove the passengers on the tragic ferry, as reported by TV Diário Nampula. While some were traveling to a nearby fair, others were fleeing a recent cholera outbreak in Lunga and sought safety on the Island of Mozambique. They may have sought refuge on the island out of fear of contamination, according to reports.
The secretary of state for Nampula province, Jaime Neto, stressed that false information on a purported cholera outbreak played a major role in the catastrophe. Passengers boarded the ship in an attempt to escape the region after receiving false information that caused panic. But the boat, which was really a fishing craft, was not designed to hold that many people.
In recent months, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, its neighbors, have been dealing with a devastating cholera outbreak. In an effort to lessen the disease's effects and contain it, authorities are working hard. Significant obstacles, however, are presented by the inadequate infrastructure for healthcare and the restricted accessibility of medical services in outlying locations.
The incident brings to light the challenges Mozambique faces in terms of transportation, as the country's inadequate road system forces many localities to rely mostly on boats. Regrettably, these vessels frequently exceed their capacity, resulting in congestion and endangering the security of passengers. Boats play a more important role in areas where land or air transit is not feasible.
Families and communities are in sorrow following the terrible sinking of the improvised ferry off the coast of Mozambique, which highlights the critical need for upgraded safety protocols and infrastructure development. The people of Mozambique must be kept secure in the future by taking action against the cholera outbreak and disseminating accurate information.