Official figures from the National Institute of the Sea (INAMAR) show that between 2023 and 2024 the number of deaths and damage caused by maritime accidents in Mozambique increased.

Leonild Chimarizene, spokesperson for the National Institute of the Sea (INAMAR), said that last year 319 deaths were recorded and 83 people went missing as a result of 271 maritime accidents, which affected around 13,000 people.

The source pointed out that of the accidents, 132 were drownings, 76 shipwrecks, 29 attacks by animals, six strandings and seven collisions.

Sofala province tops the list for drownings, with 29 cases, and Zambézia for shipwrecks and attacks by animals, especially crocodiles and hippos, with 26 and 14 incidents respectively," he said.

The failure of crew members to comply with safety measures, especially the weather report, despite the information issued via maritime radio, is seen as the main cause of accidents.

Boat overcrowding, poor maintenance, night-time sailing, drink-driving and lack of a driving certificate are other causes of accidents.

(Source: News)