The death toll from a ferry boat that capsized off the northern coast of Mozambique on Sunday has climbed to nearly 100, President Filipe Nyusi said on Monday. Nearly 20 others are still missing.
An official from the country's Maritime Transport Institute (INTRASMAR) said the vessel carrying 130 passengers was an overloaded fishing boat and was not licensed to transport people.
It was ferrying people from Lunga in Nampula province to Mozambique Island on Sunday, Lourenco Machado, an administrator of INTRASMAR, said on state television, adding that initial reports indicated that it was hit by a tidal wave.
The passengers were reportedly fleeing a cholera outbreak, the Office of the Secretary of State for Nampula province said in a statement, adding that 10 people had been rescued.
Nyusi said he was saddened by the tragedy and directed the southern African nation's transport minister to visit the island for investigation.
"The Mozambican Government will meet tomorrow to assess the situation and take necessary measures to minimize the impact of this incident," his office said.
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