A passenger vessel carrying far more people than its capacity sank on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, leaving at least 15 dead and dozens unaccounted for. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a state of disaster as rescue efforts continue.
A boat carrying significantly more passengers than permitted sank on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, resulting in at least 15 confirmed deaths and 27 people reported missing. According to police statements, the vessel was designed to accommodate 90 passengers and five crew members but reportedly carried approximately 120 people, including 12 children. The Zimbabwe Civil Protection Unit placed the figure at 114 registered adult passengers, though officials acknowledge an undetermined number of children below ticketing age may also have been aboard.
Authorities attributed the disaster to the vessel being struck by a strong wave, causing it to overturn. Video footage circulating online appears to capture the capsized hull in the water. Rescue operations have recovered 77 survivors thus far, with President Mnangagwa declaring a state of disaster to mobilise resources for the ongoing search effort. The government has deployed an army boat squadron, a police sub-aqua unit, and a privately owned helicopter to aid recovery operations.
Lake Kariba, one of the world's largest artificial reservoirs straddling the Zimbabwe-Zambia border, serves as a critical transportation and fishing hub while generating hydroelectric power for both nations. Local MP Mutsa Murombedzi raised concerns about discrepancies in passenger figures, demanding official clarity on the actual number of people who boarded. Local government minister Daniel Garwe expressed government condolences to affected families while confirming that 15 bodies had been retrieved by two funeral parlours.
