9 dead as boat sinks off Mozambique: Official

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - A boat carrying 30 passengers and crew members sank off the coast of Mozambique, killing at least nine people, authorities said on Friday.

According to preliminary information, nine people drowned in the tragedy, eight others survived by swimming ashore, and 13 others are still missing, a senior official told local media.

The boat, which was carrying 30 passengers, crew members and cargo, departed Nacala port around 3.30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) on Thursday toward Memba district in northern Nampula province.

The search for 13 missing passengers continued on Friday, district administrator Juma Candria said.

He stated that health workers and police officers are collaborating to locate those who are still missing. "It's a depressing moment," he said, adding, "but the search will continue until we find the other bodies that are still missing."

The disaster, he said, was caused by bad weather that slammed the region on Thursday afternoon.

Community leaders attempted to inform authorities concerned about the incident, according to sources, but the area had a poor communication service.