Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster Death Toll Rises to 93

The vessel, which was travelling from Kariba town to the Chalala Fishing Camp, capsized on August 11 after reportedly being struck by strong waves while navigating near Long Island. The ferry was built to carry 90 passengers, but local media estimates that at least 168 people were aboard when it overturned.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared the accident a national disaster, directing full support for affected families. The declaration enables the government to mobilise extraordinary measures and resources necessary to assist and protect persons affected by the disaster.

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Search and Rescue Operations Continue

The search and rescue operation has been ongoing since the disaster, with emergency teams including the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority personnel and other responders deployed to the scene. An underwater team has been deployed on the lake, which forms part of the border between Zimbabwe and neighbouring Zambia.

The Police Sub-Aqua Unit has been airlifted to the area to reinforce the search and rescue effort. Funeral services companies have been engaged to collect the bodies for processing.

Survivors were taken to Long Island on the lake, with boats being dispatched to bring them back to the mainland. The government has extended its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives.

Eyewitness Accounts

Survivors recounted the harrowing experience, with some saying they pleaded with the captain to turn back as the ferry encountered strong winds and large waves. One survivor described the lack of safety equipment on board: "There were no life jackets. People were just trying to stay afloat. Many couldn't swim and were calling for help."

Mutsa Murombedzi, a local member of Parliament, posted video footage on social media showing people on shore waving off the ageing ferry at the start of its journey, with some appearing concerned about whether it would survive strong waves on the lake.

Capacity Concerns and Safety Questions

The boat had a carrying capacity of 90 people, raising serious concerns that it was severely overloaded at the time of the accident. A report by Cecilia Chitiyo, Director of Local Government in the Office of the Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution, confirmed the vessel was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and an undisclosed number of children.

Reports suggest the actual number on board could have been significantly higher, with some sources indicating more than 160 adults may have been on the ferry. The presence of children below ticketing age who were not included in the passenger count may mean the actual number of victims could be higher than currently reported.

Safety concerns have been raised previously about the condition of vessels operating on Lake Kariba and the lack of adequate safety equipment for passengers. Lake Kariba, the largest man-made lake in the world by volume, forms part of the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, and rural communities use the ferry to travel along the lake to the town of Kariba.

A Pattern of Tragedy

The disaster is one of several major ferry accidents in the region in recent years. Overcrowding and poor safety standards have frequently been cited as contributing factors in such tragedies.

The search and recovery operation is expected to continue for several days as authorities work to locate the missing passengers and retrieve all bodies from the lake. The Zimbabwean government has promised a thorough investigation into the cause of the disaster.

For the families of the victims, the tragedy has brought devastation, with many still awaiting news of their loved ones. The government has extended its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives.

With reporting from eNCA, Channel Africa, The Zimbabwean and ZBC.