- At least 72 people have died, including 18 children, after an overloaded ferry capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, with rescuers recovering more bodies.
- The ferry capsized in strong waves on Tuesday.
- Authorities have not confirmed how many were aboard or how many remain missing.
- The ferry was traveling from the town of Kariba to rural and fishing communities in the country’s northwest, where roads are damaged and public transportation is scarce.
- Estimates have put the number of passengers as high as 153, while authorities say the ferry’s capacity is 90.
- Witnesses reported that passengers urged the captain to turn back as waves grew stronger, but were dismissed.
- One of the two crew who survived, Anyway Chambati, said some people had survived by standing on the capsized hull.
- Zimbabwe's disaster management agency has said 77 people were rescued.
At least 72 people have died in a tragic ferry disaster on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, where an overloaded vessel capsized amid strong waves.125
The ferry was traveling from Kariba to rural communities, where public transport is limited.
Authorities reported that 26 more bodies were recovered since the initial count, with the death toll now at 72, including 18 children.
The youngest victim was just 1 year old, and many children were not included in initial passenger estimates due to their age.
Witnesses recounted that passengers urged the captain to turn back as conditions worsened, but their pleas were ignored.7
One survivor, Anyway Chambati, who was in charge of ticketing, stated, “Before it went down, passengers were screaming at us that the boat was flooding, water was pouring into the engine room and goods were spilling out.”8
The ferry's capacity was 90, yet estimates suggest it was carrying as many as 153 passengers at the time of the accident.
Zimbabwe’s disaster management agency confirmed that 77 people were rescued from the water, but the exact number of missing remains unclear.
The incident has raised serious concerns about safety regulations and the management of passenger ferries in the region.
“The ferry was overloaded, with estimates of up to 153 passengers against a capacity of 90, and witnesses say passengers urged the captain to turn back as waves grew. Authorities have not confirmed how many remain missing, while 77 people have been rescued.”
