Death toll in Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba ferry disaster rises to 46, recovery efforts ongoing

The death toll from the ferry disaster on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba has risen to 46, as recovery efforts continued on Thursday, authorities have reported.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed the fatalities in a statement, after a Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) ferry capsized on the lake on Tuesday.

A state of disaster was declared following the incident, with President Emmerson Mnangagwa directing government agencies to mobilise resources to support affected families and speed up recovery efforts.

“The ZRP advises Zimbabweans and relevant stakeholders that the death toll in the Kariba RIDA boat accident is now 46. In the same vein, the names of the victims who perished in the accident will be released in due course,” police said.

The latest figure came as families gathered in Kariba on Thursday to mourn those killed in the disaster. According to the Associated Press, mourners gathered at Nyamhunga Stadium, where coffins were placed beneath tents. Some families are believed to have lost several relatives in the accident.

The ferry was travelling from Kariba town towards rural communities and fishing camps in Chalala when it overturned. The number of people still unaccounted for has yet to be established as authorities have not verified how many passengers were aboard the boat when it overturned.

The accident was initially reported to have involved 95 people, with police saying the vessel was carrying 90 passengers and five crew members. However, the ZRP revised the estimate on Wednesday, saying about 120 people were believed to have been on board, including 108 adults and 12 children. ZRP warned that the final number could be even higher.

“The police are still verifying facts on the exact number of people who were in the boat,” ZRP said on Wednesday.

“Information availed to the Lake captain indicated that the boat had 120 people who were going to Chalala from Kariba (108 adults and 12 children). However, police investigations indicate that the boat could have been carrying more people.”

The accident has raised concerns about the continued use of the ageing ferry and the response to the incident. Some survivors have claimed that they had urged the captain to turn the vessel back as strong waves hit the lake shortly before the ferry overturned.