Rescue teams search for passengers after vessel capsizes in bad weather
At least 15 people have died after a ferry capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba, with search and rescue operations continuing amid uncertainty over the total number of passengers who were on board.
Dozens rescued
Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit said 77 people had been rescued following the incident on Tuesday.
However, officials said the exact number of people aboard the ferry remains unknown. The vessel was designed to carry 90 passengers and five crew members, but ticketing records showed that 114 adults were on board, with an unknown number of children who were below the ticketing age.
Bad weather blamed
The ferry reportedly departed in difficult weather conditions before capsizing on the lake.
A witness said the vessel may have been struck by a large wave, causing its engines to shut down before the boat overturned.
Helicopters, boats and divers were deployed to assist with the rescue operation, although severe weather reportedly delayed their arrival at the scene.
Ferry serves communities around lake
The ferry operates between the northern town of Kariba and several islands and fishing camps located on Lake Kariba.
The lake is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia and supports communities, tourism and fishing activities across the region.
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made lake by volume. It was created between the late 1950s and early 1960s following the construction of a dam across the Zambezi River.
The vast reservoir stretches for more than 200 kilometres and reaches around 40 kilometres in width in some areas.
With the number of people aboard the ferry still uncertain, rescue teams continue searching the lake for possible survivors and victims.
