Mourners gathered in Zimbabwe to mourn victims of a ferry disaster on Lake Kariba, where the death toll has risen to 46. The overloaded ferry capsized Tuesday, with authorities still working to determine the exact number of passengers and missing individuals.
The tragedy highlights critical deficiencies in Zimbabwe's maritime safety and infrastructure, leading to loss of life and prompting a state of disaster declaration. It underscores the reliance of remote communities on potentially unsafe transport methods due to poor road networks.
Mourners gathered in Kariba, Zimbabwe, on Thursday to mourn the victims of a ferry disaster that occurred earlier in the week on Lake Kariba. The death toll has risen to 46, with authorities still working to ascertain the exact number of people aboard the overloaded vessel and those still missing.
The ferry, traveling from Kariba town to rural communities and fishing camps, capsized on Tuesday. While official figures on passenger numbers are pending, estimates suggest as many as 153 people may have been on board the aging ferry, which has a capacity of 90. As of Wednesday, 77 individuals had been rescued.
Some families have suffered multiple losses, including Collen Ndandalika, who told state broadcaster ZBC News that his wife and three children drowned. He is awaiting identification of his wife and one child, with two children's bodies recovered.
The disaster has drawn criticism regarding the use of the aging ferry and the response time to the sinking. Survivors reported pleading with the captain to turn back due to strong waves before the vessel capsized.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster, acknowledging serious deficiencies in the country's maritime capabilities. He ordered government agencies to mobilize resources for victim assistance and recovery efforts. Lake Kariba, created in the late 1950s and early 1960s, is the world's largest human-made lake by volume.