At least 15 people have died and 27 remain missing after an overloaded ferry capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, authorities confirmed.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when the vessel, carrying more than 90 passengers, was struck by strong waves. The ferry operates between the town of Kariba and nearby islands and fishing camps.
According to Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit, the boat had at least 114 adult passengers based on ticket records, along with five crew members. However, there may have been additional children on board who were not registered.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with 77 people already saved. The national police and search teams, including divers and an underwater rescue unit, are involved in the operation. A helicopter from Matusadona National Park is also assisting.
Eyewitness Maxton Kanhema described the ferry departing despite poor weather conditions. He noted that a wave possibly caused the engines to fail, leading to the capsizing. Nearby boats responded to distress signals, but bad weather delayed rescue efforts, resulting in fatalities.
Lake Kariba, located on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is the world’s largest man-made lake by volume, stretching over 200 km in length and up to 40 km wide. It was formed in the late 1950s by damming the Zambezi River.
