Three people, including a three-month-old baby have died after a Mozambican-registered marine vessel (MV) Chambo caught fire and sank near Chulu in Mbamba Bay, Tanzania yesterday morning.
Likoma district commissioner Abubakar Nkhoma said the incident happened at around 4am when the vessel, which was travelling to Mitengula in Mozambique, caught fire after cargo was reportedly placed near exposed electric wires.
He said strong easterly winds spread the fire rapidly.
Nkhoma also said the vessel was carrying 42 people, including seven crew members as well as drums of diesel and petrol which reportedly worsened the fire.
“Fishers from the Bamba Bay area rescued all the people who survived the incident. However, three people died while being taken to the shore due to shock,” he said.
Nkhoma said the deceased include Joyce Chimaliro, an elderly woman from Madimba in Likoma District, an unidentified young man and a three-month-old baby from Mozambique.
He said survivors were treated as outpatients and are currently in Mbamba Bay.
Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) is preparing to repatriate Chimaliro’s body to Likoma.
