By Blessing Chinagorom
The African Union Commission has expressed condolences to the Government and the people of Mozambique following the tragic boat accident on the coast of Nampula province which claimed more than 90 lives on Sunday.
AU President, Moussa Faki Mahamat in his official social media platforms on Monday grieved over the unfortunate incident, prayed for the deceased families, according to him “Our prayers go to the bereaved families”.
The Mozambican authorities on Monday updated the death toll to 98 following Sunday’s sinking in Nampula province, northern Mozambique, report said.
“At the moment we have a total of 98 deaths, 13 survivors and the rest are missing. It was a boat with around 130 people,” Rosa Chauque, Spokeswoman for Mozambique Police (PRM) in Nampula province.
While according to the Mozambican maritime authorities, the fishing boat was not authorised to carry passengers, nor did it have the conditions to do so.
The same source further said, the people it was carrying were fleeing a cholera outbreak on the mainland, bound for the island of Mozambique.
The victims died following the sinking of an overcrowded boat that had left the Lunga administrative post bound for the island of Mozambique, the PRM spokeswoman told Lusa.
“It’s just a fisherman’s boat, a boat that didn’t have the capacity for the number of people it was carrying. Searches are continuing,” she added.
Local reports indicate that the victims, including children and entire families, are being buried immediately due to the lack of conditions for preserving the bodies.
