On 8th April 2024, a maritime nightmare unfolded off the northern coast of Mozambique. An unlicensed ferry, overloaded with passengers, capsized causing the tragic loss of at least 94 lives.
According to an official from the Mozambique Maritime Transport Institute (INTRASMAR), the vessel in question was not a designated ferry but a fishing boat. Overcrowded and ill-equipped for the task, it was ferrying people from Lunga in Nampula province to the Mozambique Island.
“On Sunday we registered a maritime incident where at least 94 people died when a barge carrying 130 people capsized. We have recovered 94 bodies and 26 are missing,” stated Lourenco Machado, an administrator of INSTRASMAR.
The incident is believed to have been triggered by a tidal wave, causing the vessel to capsize and leading to the tragic loss of lives, which included many children.
Interestingly, it appears that the passengers on the ill-fated vessel were not on a pleasure cruise. They were, in fact, trying to escape a cholera outbreak.
“The passengers were fleeing a cholera outbreak,” said state broadcaster TVM, citing another local maritime administrator.
Jaime Neto, secretary of state for Nampula province, also confirmed this fact to the British Broadcasting Corp (BBC).
It’s not just Mozambique, but several countries in Southern Africa have been grappling with cholera outbreaks since last year. The dire health situation has led to people taking desperate measures, like boarding overcrowded and unlicensed vessels, to escape the deadly disease.
The capsizing of the ferry has highlighted the tragic human cost of such desperate measures. Videos posted on social media platforms showed many bodies lying on a beach and some people carrying the bodies of children. These videos, however, could not be immediately verified by Reuters.
The Mozambique Maritime Transport Institute, along with other local authorities, is currently engaged in the task of recovering bodies and searching for the missing passengers. The incident has thrown light on the lax maritime safety standards and the need for more stringent regulations.
