Zimbabwe Ferry Disaster Death Toll Rises to 44
Overcrowded vessel capsizes on Lake Kariba, leaving dozens dead and others missing
- 44 people confirmed dead
- 67 survivors rescued
- Overloading suspected
At least 44 people have died after an overloaded passenger ferry capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, police said on Wednesday, marking a sharp increase from earlier death toll estimates.
The vessel overturned on Tuesday while crossing Lake Kariba, which lies along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Police said preliminary investigations indicated that the ferry was carrying significantly more passengers than its designed capacity when it encountered strong winds.
Authorities said the vessel had a capacity of 90 passengers, but more than 120 people may have been on board when the accident occurred.
The death toll increased as rescue teams recovered more bodies from the lake during ongoing search and recovery operations.
At least 67 survivors have been rescued and taken to a nearby primary school, where they are receiving medical attention, police said.
Rescue teams remain at the scene as authorities work to establish the exact number of passengers on board and determine the circumstances that led to the disaster.
Lake Kariba is one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs and serves as an important route for fishing and passenger transport between communities along the Zimbabwe-Zambia border.
