Mozambique is mourning the death of Rosita Salvador Mabuiango, the woman once celebrated as the country’s “miracle baby” after she was born during the devastating floods of 2000.
Rosita died on Monday at the age of 25 following a long illness, her family has confirmed.
Her death has sparked an outpouring of grief across the region, where her dramatic rescue as a newborn became one of the most powerful symbols of survival in Mozambique’s history.
Rosita’s birth amid disaster and rescue from a tree
Rosita was born in February 2000 at the height of Mozambique’s worst-ever floods, after the Limpopo River burst its banks and submerged vast areas of the south.
Hundreds of people died, while hundreds of thousands were forced from their homes.
Her mother had climbed a tree to escape the rising waters when she went into labour.
Images of Rosita and her mother being winched to safety by a helicopter against a flooded landscape were broadcast around the world, turning the newborn into a symbol of hope amid tragedy.
The baby became widely known as the “miracle baby” of the floods.
Family confirms Rosita’s long illness
Confirming her death, Rosita’s sister, Celia Salvador, told the BBC that she had passed away after battling illness for several years.
“She passed away after a prolonged illness. I’m extremely sad,” she said, adding that the family struggled to fully explain the medical condition that led to her death.
According to BBC other family members later revealed that Rosita had been living with anaemia for years.
Her condition worsened recently, forcing her to spend more than two weeks in hospital, where she eventually died on Monday morning. Her mother also told local media that Rosita had been suffering from tuberculosis.
A national symbol, says president
President Daniel Chapo described Rosita as a powerful symbol for the nation, particularly for young girls.
“She was a symbol for girls in Mozambique,” the president told the BBC. “That’s why I extend my condolences to all Mozambican people, especially to Mozambican girls.”
Her life, he said, represented resilience and hope born out of one of the country’s darkest moments.
