A child lost his life and 22 other people are missing following the sinking of a boat on Monday on the River Chire in Malawi. The river is shared between Malawi and Mozambique.

The canoe was carrying 37 people from the town of Nsanje, in the neighboring country, to the district of Morrumbala, in the province of Zambézia, in Mozambique. The people were on their way to their lands where they carry out agricultural activities. There is a possibility that the victims were Mozambican citizens living in Malawi.

According to Radio MozambiqueDuring the trip, the boat was hit by a hippopotamus and, due to the impact, capsized causing the death and disappearance of people. The police said that of the 37 victims, 14 managed to swim to the riverbank.

Agnes Salacoma, spokesperson for the Nsanje police anticipated that the death toll could rise as the search to find the missing continues.