A member of the Defense and Security Forces assigned to the naval guard is missing after throwing himself into the sea from a passenger transport boat while underway in Inhambane province on Thursday night.

The Delegate of the Maritime Transport Institute in the province, Dinório Mudumane, confirmed the incident this morning. He said that the boat, called Magulute, was traveling with other passengers on board, on the last route from Maxixe to Inhambane.

"It's the first case we've registered in Inhambane," he said.

Cited by Radio MozambiqueHe said that a team had already been set up with agents from the Navy, the Coastal Protection Police and the Maritime Administration in order to search for and locate the soldier's body.

According to the source, the young man used to travel that route and the population knew who he was. "At the moment his belongings are at the Inhambane police station while the search continues."

The person in charge suspects it is a case of suicide.

"Of his own free will, he opened the ship's hatch and threw himself overboard. The situation worried the crew. They tried in every way to find the body, but because of the darkness, there was no alternative but to take the other passengers to Inhambane Port," he said.

Mudumane calls on the staff of maritime passenger and goods transportation companies to reinforce the control and security measures for passengers on board.

"[The incident] sends out a warning to all crew members on vessels about the safety of passengers in their custody," he appealed.