Zimbabwe ferry disaster death toll climbs to 68

The ferry, operated by the government’s Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, overturned on Tuesday while travelling through rough

HARARE: The death toll from a ferry disaster on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba has risen to 68 after rescuers recovered 22 more bodies, police said on Saturday.

The ferry, operated by the government’s Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, overturned on Tuesday while travelling through rough waters. The vessel was carrying villagers and fish traders who rely on the lake for their livelihoods.

Authorities said the boat was licensed to carry 90 passengers but had 114 adults and five crew members on board, along with an unknown number of children. The overcrowding has raised concerns about safety standards as the search for the remaining victims continues.

Lake Kariba lies along Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia and is a vital source of transport and trade for communities living around the lake.