Kariba ferry death toll rises to 93, making it Zimbabwe's deadliest transport disaster

What the report says

A ferry disaster on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba has grown into the country’s deadliest transport tragedy, with the death toll reported at 93 by police and the state-run Herald, BBC Africa said. The boat overturned about a week earlier after being hit by a strong wave. Officials said the ferry was meant to carry 90 passengers, but the Herald estimated that at least 168 people may have been on board.

Search and recovery work is still under way, with divers continuing to find bodies in and around the lake. BBC Africa reported that some remains have drifted farther from the sinking site, including toward the Zambian side of the lake. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster after the accident. Provincial Affairs Minister Marian Chombo said 67 people had been rescued, while police said 83 victims had been identified, including 39 children.

The ferry was described as an important and low-cost transport option for rural communities around the lake, which sits on the border with Zambia and also supports fishing and hydroelectric power. According to the Herald, many passengers were parents and traders traveling during the school holiday period. Survivors quoted by AFP and local officials said the vessel appeared overloaded and that life jackets were hard to access. BBC Africa said some families are still waiting for news, and identification of the dead remains difficult.