At least 15 dead, dozens missing as ferry capsizes in Zimbabwe

At least 15 people lost their lives and 27 remain missing following a ferry accident on Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba, reported the country's Civil Protection Unit. On Tuesday, the overloaded vessel overturned due to strong waves, the agency disclosed. Rescuers managed to save a minimum of 77 individuals. The boat, which connects the northern town of Kariba to several islands and fishing camps, was carrying over its authorized capacity of 90 people at the time of the incident, according to the Civil Protection Unit.

While the precise numbers of passengers and crew are yet to be confirmed, they stated that 114 adult passengers and five crew members could be accounted for through registered ticket sales. The remaining passengers and crew could include an unknown number of children below the ticketing age who are not yet accounted for. Zimbabwe's national police service confirmed that rescue efforts are underway.

ZBC, the state broadcaster, shared footage of speedboats heading towards the overturned ferry on the lake, with a helicopter hovering above. An underwater search and rescue team was deployed to scour the extensive lake. Witness Maxton Kanhema informed the AFP news agency that the ferry set sail in poor weather conditions, and a wave likely hit the boat, disabling its engines.

Kanhema observed a distress signal being raised and nearby boats responding. He stated that the Matusadona National Park provided a helicopter to aid in the rescue operation, alongside larger boats, divers from the local area, and the army. Kanhema mentioned that people were in distress, bodies were in the water, and the situation was somber.

Those who could be rescued were indeed saved, but the late response due to bad weather resulted in some fatalities. Lake Kariba is located on Zimbabwe's border with Zambia, more than 300 kilometers northeast of Harare. Spanning over 200 kilometers in length and up to 25 miles wide, it is the world's largest man-made lake by volume, created in the late 1950s and early 1960s through the construction of a dam wall on the Zambezi River.