Authorities say an overcrowded handmade ferry sank off Mozambique's north coast, killing at least 94 people and leaving 26 missing.
According to Nampula province officials, five persons have been rescued out of a total of approximately 130 people who were on board.
They were escaping a cholera outbreak, Nampula Secretary of State Jaime Neto stated. Many children were among the dead, he said. "Because the boat was overcrowded and unsuited to carry passengers it ended up sinking," Mr. Neto said.
An unverified video released on social media claimed to show hundreds of bodies lying on a beach. According to Portuguese broadcaster RTP, the boat was probably sailing from Lunga to Mozambique Island, located off the coast of Nampula.
Nampula province has been one of the most impacted by the cholera outbreak, which has spread across several countries in southern Africa since January last year.
According to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the current outbreak is the most severe in 25 years. Since October 2023, Mozambique has recorded 13,700 confirmed cases and 30 deaths.
Mozambique Island served as the capital of Portuguese East Africa for approximately 400 years, during the colonial era. The island is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its colonial architecture and long history as a commercial station.
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