- Three people, including nationals of Mozambique, Malawi and a Tanzanian, have died after the MV Chambo caught fire in the early hours of Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Three people have been reported dead after a vessel operating between Tanzania and Mozambique caught fire on Lake Nyasa in Ruvuma Region, in Tanzanian territory.
Tanzania’s Nyasa District Commissioner Perosi Magiri said the incident occurred on Sunday, October 11, 2026, as the MV Chambo was travelling from Tanzania to Mozambique, carrying 10 tonnes of cargo and 44 passengers of different nationalities.
The casualties included nationals of Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania, he said, adding that the passenger and cargo vessel was registered in Mozambique and travelled to Tanzania every Saturday, returning on Sunday.
He said the passengers comprised four Malawians, 23 Mozambicans, 15 Tanzanians and two nationals of Lesotho.
The three people who died were a three-month-old girl from Mozambique, a Malawian woman and a Tanzanian identified as Yuston Chatanda, a resident of Njombe.
“The vessel departed on Sunday, October 11, at 4.30am. The accident occurred while it was still on the Tanzanian side, with 44 passengers on board. Three people died, while the others were rescued. Firefighting operations are continuing under the Fire and Rescue Force,” Mr Magiri said.
“When the vessel caught fire while still in Tanzanian waters, the passengers had to jump into the water. We managed to rescue some of them,” he added.
Mr Magiri said further arrangements were under way, including communication with neighbouring Mozambique and Malawi. Mozambique had already dispatched a small boat to collect the body of its deceased national.
He added that authorities had also contacted relatives of the Tanzanian victim living in Njombe.
The district commissioner said the cause of the fire remained unknown, explaining that initial efforts had focused on rescuing passengers and extinguishing the blaze.
He commended local residents and fishermen for participating in the rescue operation, saying they helped bring survivors safely ashore.
“All the bodies have been taken to Nangombo District Hospital in Nyasa. Other arrangements are under way to ensure foreign nationals return to their respective countries, while the district government continues to provide assistance, including food,” he said.
Mr Magiri said he had not witnessed an incident of this nature during more than two years of working in the area.
He urged users of water transport to comply with safety laws and procedures to reduce the risk of accidents that could result in deaths and injuries.
He stressed the importance of inspecting vessels before use and ensuring they are equipped with safety equipment, including lifebuoys and life jackets.
He also urged foreign visitors entering the country to carry valid identification documents to help authorities establish their identities in the event of an emergency.
Meanwhile, secretary of chiefs in the Nyasa Chiefdom in Ruvuma Region, Mr Sadi Mussa, expressed condolences to those affected by the accident and thanked government leaders for their swift response in assisting survivors.
He said the government, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, had recently provided rescue boats, commending Mr Magiri for his efforts to help those affected by the incident.
“Essentially, people should continue to work together and stand in solidarity. We should not blame one another over what happened, because this was an accident. Let us support one another and encourage those affected by this difficult experience,” Mr Mussa said.
The accident comes 44 days after another vessel, the oil tanker MV Pacific, caught fire while docked at Kigoma Port, killing four people.
The incident occurred on August 28, 2026, at 8:30pm, as the Democratic Republic of Congo-flagged vessel prepared to depart after loading fuel at the port.
A lake shared by three nations
Lake Nyasa (Lago Niassa) is the Tanzanian and Mozambican name for the lake that Malawi calls Lake Malawi. It is one of Africa’s largest lakes, and its shores belong to Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.
Boats carry passengers and cargo between lakeside towns in the three countries. The MV Chambo was on such a cross-border run on Sunday.
Three people have been confirmed dead after Mozambique’s MV Chambo caught fire and sank on Lake Malawi yesterday, affecting 39 others. 🚨
According to reports, the vessel was carrying 42 people, along with fuel drums and mattresses, raising concerns over passenger safety and the transport of flammable cargo.
— The Slice Magazine (@slicemagazine) October 12, 2026
Source: The Citizen Tanzania