Twenty-six more bodies have been recovered from a ferry that capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, bringing the death toll to 72. Police said investigations suggest the vessel was overloaded, carrying an estimated 153 people despite an authorised capacity of 90.
Search and recovery operations involving police divers, military personnel and local fishermen continued on Saturday. Authorities said 77 people were rescued shortly after the ferry overturned, with many taken first to a nearby island and later to health facilities in Kariba town.
What authorities and survivors have reported
At least 18 children were among the victims, including 16 under the age of 10, according to state broadcaster ZBC. The captain, 59-year-old Sign Patsikadova, was also among those confirmed dead. Local media identified some of the youngest victims as one-year-old Wendy Ndandarika and 14-month-old McDonald Nyasha Gumpo and Hailly Tauro.
Survivors said high winds produced choppy waves that flooded the boat shortly after departure. Passengers reportedly urged the operator to turn back towards shore, but the ferry continued into open water before rolling over.
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A vital route for communities around Lake Kariba
The ferry connected remote fishing communities along the lake with food supplies, markets and essential services. Residents said shops that depended on the vessel had begun facing shortages after the disaster disrupted food deliveries.
Lake Kariba lies on Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia, more than 300km (186 miles) northeast of Harare. The lake is the world’s largest man-made reservoir by volume, and authorities have described accidents there as relatively rare.
Government response and the continuing search
The government has declared a national disaster and deployed welfare agencies to distribute food to affected households. Families in some communities have lost more than one relative, with local residents describing particularly severe losses in some homesteads.
The recovery effort was still under way on Saturday, while police investigations examined the circumstances surrounding the ferry’s departure and capsizing. The reported passenger estimate and authorised limit form a central part of the overloading inquiry.
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