Zimbabwe ferry disaster death toll rises to 68
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago1 MIN
Summary
The death toll from Tuesday's ferry disaster on Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe has risen to at least 68 after rescuers recovered 22 more bodies. Authorities say the passenger vessel may have been overloaded and capsized in strong winds, and the search for missing passengers is still under way.
Key Points
- Zimbabwe police said on Saturday that rescuers found 22 additional bodies, raising the confirmed death toll from the Lake Kariba accident to at least 68.
- The vessel capsized on Tuesday on Lake Kariba, a vast reservoir on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border in the north of Zimbabwe.
- Officials said the boat was licensed for 90 passengers and five crew, but it may have been carrying about 120 people.
- The Zimbabwean government said 119 adults and an unknown number of children were on board, while 18 children were among the dead.
- President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the accident a national disaster, and authorities said more than 70 people were rescued as searches continued.
Why It Matters
The final toll may still rise because the actual number of passengers remains unclear, especially as officials are unsure how many children boarded without tickets. The response has already expanded into a multi-agency rescue effort involving military boats, police dive teams and private helicopters.