A ferry capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, resulting in at least 15 confirmed deaths and 27 people still unaccounted for. According to Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit, the vessel was operating beyond its approved capacity when it encountered rough waters and overturned. Rescue teams successfully pulled 77 passengers from the lake.
The ferry operates between the northern town of Kariba and various islands and fishing communities in the region. Officials have confirmed at least 114 adult passengers and five crew members were aboard, though the exact total remains unclear as an unknown number of children below ticketing age may have been traveling without recorded tickets. Search and rescue efforts continue as authorities work to determine the final passenger count and locate those still missing.
Witness accounts indicate the boat departed despite unfavorable weather conditions. Local rescue teams, including helicopters from Matusadona National Park, speedboats, divers, and military personnel, responded to the emergency. Despite these efforts, a survivor noted that adverse weather delayed the response, contributing to the loss of life during the incident on the massive man-made lake that straddles Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia.
Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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