At least 37 people lost their lives in road accidents, drownings and boat sinkings recorded during the festive season in Mozambique, authorities have announced to local media.
Mozambique Police authorities (PRM) indicated that road traffic accidents alone accounted for 23 deaths, as well as 19 people seriously injured, and 22 with minor injuries.
“Unfortunately, from these road accidents we recorded a total of 23 fatalities, 19 serious injuries and 22 minor injuries,” the police spox Leonel Muchina said while presenting the balance of the festive period.
Between 20 December and 2 January, a total of 18 road accidents were registered nationwide, compared with 14 during the same festive period the previous year.
“Specifically during the peak days of the festive season, 24 and 25 December, and 31 December and 1 January, there were seven road mishaps compared with 11 the previous year, and unfortunately these resulted in eight deaths,” the police spokesperson said.
During the same period, police recorded 164 criminal cases across the country, with physical assaults, home invasions and thefts among the most common offences.
PRM’s “Zumbo” operation, along with a joint operation involving other authorities known as “Consolidation”, launched to reinforce security during the festive season, will remain in force until 10 January, as there is still some movement across the country.
In a separate update, authorities said at least 14 people died and one person remains missing as a result of drownings and boat sinkings during the festive period, with the highest number of incidents recorded on beaches in the south of the country.
“We recorded around 14 fatalities this festive season, compared with 16 deaths last season. There was one missing person, compared with three last year,” said Moniz Munguambe, head of the Division of Marine Planning and Administration at the National Institute of the Sea (Inamar), quoted by local media.
According to Munguambe, the beaches of Xai-Xai and Bilene, both in Gaza province, recorded the highest number of fatal accidents, with a total of six deaths.
Maritime authorities also explained that some of the drownings and boat sinkings occurred on beaches that are not recommended for swimmers.
