Mozambican authorities have said misinformation surrounding a cholera outbreak has been identified as a key factor in the tragic ferry disaster off the country’s coast, which claimed the lives of nearly 100 people on Sunday.
The overcrowded ferry, filled with panicked passengers fleeing due to false reports about the disease, capsized with many children among the victims. Dozens of people are still missing.
The authorities, however, did not provide details about the source or origin of the disinformation.
Mozambique, grappling with an actual cholera crisis, has faced deadly consequences due to the spread of false information in the past.
Officials reported that the boat was attempting to reach the Island of Mozambique to avoid the cholera outbreak.
Jaime Neto, secretary of state for Nampula province, emphasised that the vessel – converted from a fishing boat – sank due to overcrowding and its unsuitability for passenger transport, resulting in the tragic loss of many children’s lives.
Lourenco Machado, an administrator of the Maritime Transport Institute (Instrasmar), stated on state television on Monday, that the vessel was an overloaded fishing boat and was not authorised to transport passengers.