A passenger boat overturned on Lake Kariba on Tuesday, leaving at least 15 people dead and dozens rescued as recovery teams continue searching the water.
Police said the vessel was carrying 90 passengers and 5 crew when it was hit by a strong wave and capsized. Officials warn the boat may have been overloaded. Ticket records reviewed by Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit list 114 adults onboard, and they say there could have been additional children traveling without tickets.
So far, 77 people have been pulled from the water alive. Rescue teams have recovered 15 bodies, which two local funeral parlours are now assisting with.
Footage shared online shows the hull of the boat floating on the surface of the lake.
Lake Kariba sits on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and is one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs. It is used for transport, fishing, and hydroelectric power for both countries. For many residents, boats like this one are the main way to cross to Kariba town, a trip that takes about 5 hours.
Local MP Mutsa Murombedzi posted video of the boat departing and called for clarity on the passenger numbers.
“We have very hard questions that require honest answers. The officials must release the correct number of people who were onboard,” she wrote on X.
Police said more details will be released “in due course” as the operation continues.
