Zimbabwe police raise Lake Kariba ferry death toll to 84
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Zimbabwean police said on Sunday they recovered four more bodies after a ferry capsized on Lake Kariba, raising the death toll to at least 84. Search efforts were continuing after the overloaded vessel overturned Tuesday near the Zambian border.
Key Facts
- The ferry had a stated capacity of 90 people, but authorities said as many as 153 people were aboard.
- At least 18 children were among the dead.
- The vessel overturned during heavy winds near the Zambian border while travelling from Kariba to rural and fishing communities in Zimbabwe’s northwest.
- President Emmerson Mnangagwa called the incident tragic and said it exposed serious deficiencies that needed immediate attention.
- Travel by water is common in northern Zimbabwe because of limited public transport and poorly maintained roads.
The Capsizing
The passenger ferry capsized Tuesday on Lake Kariba near the Zambian border while travelling from the town of Kariba to rural and fishing communities in Zimbabwe’s northwest. It overturned during heavy winds. Authorities said the ferry’s capacity was 90 people. As many as 153 people were believed to have been aboard. Police have not confirmed how many people were on board.
Death Toll and Official Reaction
Zimbabwean police confirmed on Sunday that four more bodies had been recovered, bringing the death toll to at least 84. At least 18 children lost their lives in the accident. Search efforts were still under way on Sunday, police said. Footage posted by local media on Saturday showed hundreds of people waiting outside a local hospital to identify loved ones. President Emmerson Mnangagwa described the event on Tuesday as tragic and said it exposed serious deficiencies that needed to be addressed immediately.
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Zimbabwe police raise Lake Kariba ferry death toll to 84
