Death toll rises to 44 after an overloaded ferry capsized on a Zimbabwe lake

Zimbabwe (AP) — Survivors on Wednesday recounted harrowing accounts of a passenger ferry that capsized on Lake Kariba, resulting in at least 44 fatalities. The overloaded vessel, which authorities estimate held up to 153 people, was en route from rural communities to the town of Kariba when it encountered perilous waves. Passengers on board pleaded with the captain to turn back, only to be ignored.

As the boat began to sink, frantic travelers scrambled for life jackets, while some floated in the water clutching their belongings. The captain, who was among the deceased, reportedly dismissed the concerns and refused to call for assistance. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster to facilitate government resources for aid.

Police have recovered bodies from the lake, but the actual number of injured and missing remains unknown. The ferry, known for carrying passengers and goods, was confirmed to have at least 114 adult passengers and five crew members on board.