Maputo, 9 Apr (AIM) – The Mozambican maritime authorities have announced that the death toll from the shipwreck that took place on Sunday evening off the coast of Mozambique Island, in the northern province of Nampula, has risen to “almost 100”.
The initial number of deaths was given as 94, later rising to 98. The figure given late on Monday, and cited in Tuesday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Mediafax” was not exact.
The boat was carrying 130 people, including 59 children. It is believed that most of the fatalities are women. 18 passengers are known to have survived and 14 people are missing. Since it is unlikely that any more survivors will be found at this stage in the rescue operations, the final death could rise considerably.
The immediate cause of the tragedy was overloading. According to the Nampula Maritime Administrator, Fahara Luís, the vessel in question was a fishing boat and was not authorized to transport people. Its maximum capacity was estimated at 100, yet it was carrying 130 people,
The boat set out from the Lunga administrative post, in Mossuril district, carrying panic stricken people who said they were fleeing from an outbreak of cholera. But the Mozambique Island district administrator, Silverio Nauaito, did not confirm there was any cholera in Lunga. Wild claims were made that people died within five minutes of contracting the disease – and cholera certainly does not cause such near instantaneous mortality.
There have been cholera outbreaks across the northern provinces, sometimes accompanied by disinformation blaming local officials and health workers for deliberately spreading the disease. The alleged mass deaths in Lunga are another cholera rumour, and one with fatal results.
The people fleeing from cholera persuaded the crew of the fishing boat to take them on board and carry them to Mozambique Island, where they believed they would have easy access to a health unit.
But the sea was rough, and as the boat approached a Mozambique Island beach, a large wave surprised the crew and overturned the boat, spilling all its passengers into the water. This beach is regarded as dangerous for bathers and so there were few people to come to the rescue. Most of the passengers drowned.
The Nampula provincial governor, Manuel Rodrigues, the Secretary of State for the province, Jaime Neto and the Minister of Transport, Mateus Magala, representing President Filipe Nyusi, went to Mozambique Island to express their solidarity with families who had lost loved ones in the tragedy.
Shortly after speaking with the families, Magala told reporters that there must now be a serious reflection to prevent similar disasters happening in the future.
(AIM)
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