The number of confirmed deaths from a passenger ferry that capsized on Lake Kariba has risen to 84, the Zimbabwe Republic Police announced Sunday. The vessel overturned in heavy winds on Tuesday, Aug. 12, while traveling from the town of Kariba toward communities in the country’s northwest region near the Zambian border.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the national police service confirmed that four additional bodies had been recovered over the weekend. The service added that search and recovery operations were still underway for other passengers who remain missing.
According to government officials, the ferry had a maximum capacity of 90 people. Initial reports from authorities indicated the vessel may have been carrying as many as 153 passengers at the time it capsized, though an official passenger list has not been released.
Local media reports stated that at least 18 children were among the deceased. Following the incident, footage from the area showed crowds gathered outside a local hospital to identify victims and await news of the missing.
In a public address on Tuesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa described the event as “tragic.” He stated the incident exposed “serious deficiencies that needed to be addressed immediately” concerning maritime safety protocols and enforcement.
Water transport on Lake Kariba is a common mode of travel for residents of remote fishing and rural communities in northern Zimbabwe, connecting areas with limited road infrastructure. An investigation into the specific causes of the capsizing is ongoing.
