MV Chambo, a vessel serving communities on Lake Malawi, caught fire in Tanzanian waters on Sunday morning, with unconfirmed reports indicating that some passengers may have died.
The Mozambican vessel was reportedly heading to Mozambique when the fire broke out, forcing some passengers to escape in small boats.
Eyewitness Peter Augustin Kaluzi, writing on the “Chambo Chili Kuti” online forum, said some passengers had been rescued while others had reportedly died.
“I am sad to inform you that MV Chambo has caught fire in the waters of Tanzania while heading to Mozambique. Some passengers have been rescued using small boats, while others have died on the vessel,” he said.
The death toll, number of passengers on board and cause of the fire were not immediately confirmed.
MV Chambo operates between Likoma Island and Nkhata Bay every Wednesday, providing a vital transport link for islanders.
