An overloaded ferry overturned on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 15 individuals, with 27 still unaccounted for, according to the national disaster management agency. The agency reported that 77 people were rescued and transported to an island on the lake.
Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit mentioned that ticket sales confirmed the presence of 114 adult passengers on board, but there may have been undisclosed children below the ticketing age who were not included in the count. Additionally, the statement highlighted the presence of five crew members on the ferry, which has a maximum capacity of 90 passengers.
Mutsa Murombedzi, a local Member of Parliament, shared a video showing individuals on the shore waving at the ferry as it embarked on its journey. The ferry, known as the RIDA boat named Mbuya Nehanda, served as a vital mode of transport for rural communities traveling from Kariba to the town of Kariba, with concerns raised about its ability to withstand rough waves on the lake.
Zimbabwean authorities initiated a rescue operation following the incident, with Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster ZBC releasing footage of speedboats heading towards the overturned vessel while a helicopter provided aerial support. Lake Kariba, situated on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, stands as the largest man-made lake globally by volume, formed in the late 1950s and early 1960s through the construction of a dam wall that impounded the Zambezi River waters, creating a vast reservoir over 200 kilometers long and up to 40 kilometers wide in some areas.
The lake is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, with the official boundary running through its center, symbolizing a key natural landmark for both countries.