An overloaded ferry overturned on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 15 individuals, with 27 individuals still unaccounted for, according to the national disaster management agency. The agency reported that 77 people were rescued and brought to safety on an island within the lake.
Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit mentioned that based on ticket sales records, there were 114 adult passengers confirmed on board the ferry, but there may have been additional children who were not included in the ticket count. The statement also highlighted the presence of five crew members on the vessel, which has a maximum capacity of 90 passengers.
Local Member of Parliament, Mutsa Murombedzi, shared a video showing individuals on the shore waving at the ferry before its departure. The ferry, known as the RIDA boat named Mbuya Nehanda, was a crucial mode of transport for rural communities traveling from Kariba to the town of Kariba, with concerns raised about its ability to navigate through rough waves.
Zimbabwean authorities initiated a rescue operation following the incident, with footage released by the state broadcaster ZBC showing speedboats en route to the overturned vessel on the lake while a helicopter provided aerial support.
Lake Kariba, situated on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is the largest man-made lake globally in terms of volume. Formed in the late 1950s and early 1960s by damming the Zambezi River, the lake spans over 200 kilometers in length and up to 40 kilometers in width at certain points, with the official border division between Zimbabwe and Zambia running through its center.