Zimbabwe: At least 15 people have died after a boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, with rescue operations continuing, authorities said.
Police said the vessel was carrying 90 passengers and five crew members when it overturned on Tuesday after being struck by a strong wave. However, officials warned that the boat may have been overloaded, with ticket records indicating that 114 adults had boarded.
Authorities also said there could have been additional children below the ticketing age. The Zimbabwe Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said 77 passengers had been rescued so far, while 15 bodies had been recovered. Two funeral parlours were assisting with the collection of the bodies as rescue teams continued searching the lake.
Local lawmaker Mutsa Murombedzi questioned the reported passenger numbers and called for authorities to provide a clear account of how many people were onboard. She also shared footage appearing to show the boat before its journey.
Residents reportedly use the vessel to travel across Lake Kariba to Kariba town, a journey that can take around five hours. Lake Kariba, which lies along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs. It plays an important role in transportation, fishing and hydroelectric power generation for both countries.
Police said further details about the incident would be released as investigations and rescue operations continue. Authorities are continuing rescue and recovery operations on Lake Kariba, while questions remain over the number of people who were actually onboard the vessel and whether overloading contributed to the tragedy. Police said further details would be released as efforts to account for all passengers and determine the circumstances surrounding the incident continue.
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