12 more bodies are recovered in Zimbabwe’s ferry disaster, bringing death toll to 84

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe's death toll from the overloaded ferry tragedy on Lake Kariba has surged to 84, as authorities continued their search for more victims. The ferry capsized on Tuesday in rough waters, carrying up to 153 people despite being licensed for only 90. Authorities now estimate at least 77 people were rescued, while 77 bodies have been recovered.

The disaster claimed the lives of 18 children, with the youngest being just one year old. Sixteen victims were aged 10 or younger. The aging ferry was en route from Kariba to rural and fishing communities in Zimbabwe's northwest, where infrastructure is limited. Police said search efforts are still ongoing to recover additional missing passengers.

Kariba, the world's largest man-made lake by volume, was formed by damming the Zambezi River in the late 1950s and 1960s. The lake spans over 200 kilometers and reaches up to 40 kilometers in width. Shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, the border runs through its middle.