More than 90 killed as boat sinks off northern coast of Mozambique

A makeshift ferry boat has sunk off the north coast of Mozambique killing 96 people, including children, authorities said Monday, raising an earlier death toll.

The converted fishing boat, carrying about 130 people, ran into trouble late on Sunday as it was trying to reach an island off Nampula province, officials said.

Most of those on board were trying to escape the mainland because of a panic caused by disinformation about cholera, according to Nampula's secretary of state Jaime Neto.

On Sunday, authorities said the boat was believed to have sunk as it was overcrowded and unsuited to carrying passengers.

"Five more (bodies) have been found in the last few hours, therefore we are talking about 96 deaths," Silverio Nauaito, the island's administrator, told AFP.

Three of the five were children, he added.

Rescuers have found 11 survivors and search operations are continuing, the official said.

Earlier, officials had said 91 people lost their lives.

The southern African country, one of the world's poorest, has recorded almost 15,000 cases of cholera and 32 deaths since October, according to government data.

Nampula is the worst affected region, accounting for a third of all cases.

In recent months, the province has also received a large influx of people fleeing a wave of jihadist attacks in its northern neighbour of Cabo Delgado.

Missing at sea

Unverified footage circulating online appeared to show dozens of bodies covered by blankets lying on a beach.

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