More than 90 people died after a ferry sank off the north coast of Mozambique, the BBC said, citing domestic authorities, with five rescued from among the nearly 130 believed to have been on board.
They were fleeing a cholera outbreak, the broadcaster said on Sunday, citing Jaime Neto, secretary of state for the province of Nampula near the incident site.
“Because the boat was overcrowded and unsuited to carry passengers, it ended up sinking,” he said, adding that many children were among the dead.
Government officials did not immediately respond to Reuters request for comment.
The boat was traveling from Lunga in the province to Mozambique island, off the coast of Nampula, the British Broadcasting Corp added.
An unverified video posted on social media purported to show dozens of bodies lying on a beach.
The boat was apparently traveling from Lunga to Mozambique Island, off the coast of Nampula, Portuguese broadcaster RTP reported.
Nampula province has been one of the worst-affected by the cholera outbreak which has spread over several countries in southern Africa since January last year.
