Zimbabwean police said on August 17 that eight more bodies had been recovered after the ferry sank on Lake Kariba, raising the death toll to at least 92 people. Rescue teams continue to search for remaining victims.
In a statement posted on social media on August 17, the Zimbabwe National Police confirmed the latest figure, after announcing the recovery of 84 bodies the previous day. Authorities said they have mobilized significant resources for the rescue effort, including four vessels and more than 40 divers, and believe that all remaining bodies will eventually surface.
The incident, which occurred on August 12, is considered the worst ferry disaster in Zimbabwe's history. The ferry capsized due to strong winds on Lake Kariba, near the border with Zambia. According to authorities, the ferry had a capacity of 90 people, but officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of people on board. Earlier reports indicated the ferry was overloaded with about 153 passengers and crew.
The ferry was traveling from the town of Kariba in northern Zimbabwe to fishing communities and rural areas in the northwest. Boat travel is common in the region due to lack of infrastructure, limited public transport, and deteriorating road networks.
Video posted by local media on August 15 showed hundreds of people waiting outside a local hospital to identify relatives. At least 18 children were killed in the incident.
Reacting to the disaster, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa called it a “tragic” event and pointed to serious shortcomings that need to be addressed immediately.
