A little more than a week after Mozambique's worst sea disaster in recent memory, another boating accident has claimed lives.

A family of 12 were traveling by canoe in the central district of Caia when their vessel sank. Eight of them died and two remain missing. Most of those who died were children, reports the AFP agency.

They had all been heading to a nearby island for family farming activities. Two of the passengers survived.

Rescue efforts were paused for bad weather but have carried on since Tuesday morning, says Caia district official Nobre dos Santos.

The accident happened on Monday on one of the tributaries of the mighty Zambezi River, says state broadcaster Radio Mozambique.

Last week Mozambique's government launched an inquiry into a ferry disaster that killed dozens of passengers.