Zimbabwe police recover eight more bodies after Lake Kariba ferry disaster as toll reaches 92
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Police in Zimbabwe recovered eight more bodies from the Lake Kariba ferry disaster, raising the death toll to at least 92. Search efforts continue with four boats and more than 40 divers deployed. The ferry capsized six days ago during high winds near the Zambian border, and authorities have not confirmed how many people were on board.
Key Facts
- The national police service confirmed the latest casualty count in a social media post on Monday after declaring on Sunday that 84 bodies had been found.
- Search operations have deployed four boats and more than 40 divers to recover remaining victims.
- The ferry's capacity was 90 people, but earlier reports said it carried as many as 153 passengers and crew.
- At least 18 children lost their lives in the disaster.
- Video posted online on Saturday showed hundreds of people waiting outside a local hospital to identify loved ones.
Search and Recovery
Police in Zimbabwe recovered eight more bodies from Lake Kariba six days after the ferry capsized, raising the death toll to at least 92. The national police service confirmed the latest casualty count in a social media post on Monday, after reporting on Sunday that 84 bodies had been found. Search operations have deployed four boats and more than 40 divers to recover remaining victims. Police expect all bodies to eventually surface, and they have not confirmed how many people were on board. The ferry was travelling from the town of Kariba to rural and fishing communities in the north west.
Ferry Capacity and Overload
Authorities said the ferry's capacity was 90 people, but earlier reports indicated the vessel was overloaded with as many as 153 passengers and crew. The ferry capsized during high winds on the lake near the Zambian border. The disaster on Tuesday is believed to be the deadliest of its kind in Zimbabwe. Travel by boat is common in the region because of limited public transport and poorly maintained roads.
Victims and Response
At least 18 children lost their lives in the disaster. Video posted online by local media on Saturday showed hundreds of people waiting outside a local hospital to identify loved ones. President Emmerson Mnangagwa responded to the incident last week, describing it as "tragic" and saying it exposed serious deficiencies that needed immediate attention.
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Zimbabwe police recover eight more bodies after Lake Kariba ferry disaster as toll reaches 92
