Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 18: Two men from Kerala are among five Indian nationals missing after a boat capsized near Beira port in Mozambique while ferrying crew members to a vessel for maintenance work. The victims have been identified as Indrajith (22) from Piravom, Ernakulam, and Sreerag (36) from Chavara, Kollam. Both were employees of Scorpio Marine.

The accident occurred on Thursday in rough seas when a launch boat carrying 21 crew members was en route to the MT Sea Quest. The vessel overturned amid choppy waters, leaving the passengers stranded. Fourteen individuals were rescued, while three fatalities have been confirmed so far.

Sreerag is believed to be among the deceased, according to information conveyed to his family by the company and the Indian Embassy. Indrajith, whose father Santhosh also works on the same vessel, remains untraced.

Rescue operations, initially launched after the incident, were temporarily halted due to bad weather but resumed early Saturday with the support of Mozambique’s local authorities and the Indian High Commission in Maputo. The embassy has also issued helpline numbers for families seeking updates.

Indrajith had left home just days before the accident to join duty. Family members of both men are in contact with company officials and local representatives. MP Francis George said efforts are underway to provide support and ensure the families are regularly updated.

Authorities continue to search for the missing and recover the bodies of those feared dead, as concern grows over the fate of the remaining unaccounted crew.