Zimbabwe: Kariba Ferry Disaster Becomes Zimbabwe's Deadliest With 92 Confirmed
[The Herald] Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo Walter Nyamukondiwa in Kariba
The ferry disaster on the Zambezi River near Kariba has become the deadliest transport tragedy in Zimbabwe's history, with the death toll confirmed at 92. This surpasses the 1991 Nyanga bus disaster, which claimed 89 lives. The ongoing search and recovery efforts have recovered eight more bodies, with some now being found further away from the crash site, including near Long Island and King's Camp.
Six bodies remain unidentified, and the Government has appealed for relatives to come forward to assist with identification. At least 53 of the confirmed dead are from Mola in Nyaminyami Rural District. The situation is dire for some families, with some running out of food while waiting for the recovery and burial of their loved ones.
The vessel was carrying parents taking children to their rural homes for holidays, traders restocking their wares at fishing camps, and buyers traveling to buy fish for resale. The ferry provides a cheaper mode of transport compared to road trips. The disaster has now joined the ranks of other devastating events in Zimbabwe's history, including the Nyanga bus disaster of 1991 and the Hwange Colliery Mine disaster of 1972.
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