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Three people died on Sunday morning, 11 October, after a fire completely destroyed the CHAMBO passenger vessel, which operates between Mbamba Bay in Tanzania and Metangula in Mozambique's Niassa Province. The vessel was carrying 43 people, including crew members, when the incident occurred.
According to a statement issued by the shipping company Transmarítima, the fire broke out at approximately 5 a.m., shortly after the vessel departed Mbamba Bay for Mozambique.
After detecting the flames, the crew activated emergency procedures, allowing passengers to be evacuated onto other vessels that approached the scene to provide assistance.
Despite the rescue operation, three passengers lost their lives after they had already been transferred to one of the assisting vessels. The circumstances surrounding their deaths have not yet been clarified.
Transmarítima announced that a multisectoral technical team has been established to investigate the cause of the fire and determine the circumstances that led to the deaths of the three passengers during the rescue operation.
The investigation will also examine the emergency procedures followed by the crew and the teams involved in the rescue. Its findings will be made public once the investigation is completed.
In its statement, the company expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and extended condolences to the victims' families, reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety and transparency.
The CHAMBO vessel operated between Metangula, Mozambique, and Mbamba Bay, Tanzania, providing passenger transport across Lake Niassa, also known as Lake Malawi.
So far, no information has been released regarding the identities of the victims or the cause of the fire.
The Bank of Mozambique has extended by another six months the requirement for exporters to convert 50% of their export earnings into the national currency, in a move aimed at increasing foreign currency availability within the financial system. The decision took effect on 9 October, extending the exceptional regime introduced in April 2025.
Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has announced that authorities will begin the compulsory collection of illegally held firearms after the voluntary surrender campaign ends in December 2026. The measure is expected to take effect in January 2027, following the expiration of the amnesty period granted to citizens possessing unregistered or illegally held weapons.
The Mozambican Government has introduced new rules into its petroleum legislation to prevent the State from bearing financial costs arising from project suspensions caused by force majeure events. The measure follows disagreements with French multinational TotalEnergies, which claimed an additional $4.5 billion in costs associated with the suspension of the Mozambique LNG project in Cabo Delgado.
Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday, 11 October, that he will undergo surgery to remove a nodule detected in one of his lungs during recent medical examinations. The operation is expected to take place in the coming days at Gemelli University Hospital in Rome.
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