3 people feared dead after canoe capsize in Nsanje
Three people in Nsanje are feared dead after they drowned in the Shire River when their dug-out canoe which they were sailing in capsized Monday.
Nsanje Police Spokesperson sergeant Agnes Zalakoma confirmed the development saying nine people were traveling on water using a canoe to cross the crocodile-infested Shire from Mozambique to Malawi where they were doing farming activities.
Sergeant Zalakoma said when they were approaching a docking area called Nyamula, the canoe capsized and the three are feared died.
The Nsanje police spokesperson identified the three who are feared dead as a 9 months old baby Melifa, her mother Esther Yolamu from Navaya village and Joe Jimu, 28 years of Nyamula village Senior Chief Tengani.
“We are yet to recover their bodies but the search is in progress. We are expecting that with the current weather, the bodies will start floating very soon,” said Zalakoma.
One of the survivors Issah Waneti said the incident took place near Nyamula dock in the area of Senior Chief Tengani at around 4 O’clock in the evening.
“We were coming from farming fields in Mozambique and upon crossing the river, strong wind blew off our canoe emptying all of us into the river. In fact, in the canoe, we were about nine people on board,” said Waneti.
According to the survivor, some were rescued by people who were near the docking area while three drowned.
Meanwhile people have intensified search operation to recover the missing bodies.
So Sorry for those who lost their lives. Zikhomo za malire a Mozambique and Malawi kuchokera pa Chiromo down to nsanje zili tsidya ilo la mtsinje wa shire. Other wise a Mozambique sankanamatilola kukalima mziko lawo. Government needs to safeguard the boarder line along this river with Mozambique and also educate the people along this river that the boarder is beyond the river bank on the Mozambican side .