A major tragedy has struck Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba after a passenger boat carrying more than 100 people overturned, leaving at least 15 people dead and 27 others missing.
The incident happened on Tuesday, prompting an extensive search-and-rescue operation involving boats, a helicopter and underwater rescue specialists. Authorities are continuing to search the vast lake for passengers who remain unaccounted for.
According to Zimbabwe’s national disaster management authorities, 77 people managed to survive the accident after reaching a small island on the lake. Rescue boats were sent to the island to transport survivors to safety while emergency teams continued searching the surrounding waters.
Authorities have warned that the number of casualties could change as the rescue operation progresses.
## Boat reportedly overloaded
Initial information from Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit suggests the vessel may have been carrying more passengers than its official capacity.
Ticketing records reportedly showed that 114 adults and five crew members were on board. The boat had a stated maximum capacity of 90 passengers.
Authorities also raised concerns that children may have been travelling on the vessel without being included in the official ticket records because they were below the applicable ticketing age.
The exact circumstances that caused the boat to overturn remain unclear. Investigators are expected to examine the vessel, weather conditions, passenger numbers and other factors as they work to establish what went wrong.
## Major rescue operation launched
Zimbabwean emergency authorities have mobilised significant resources to locate those still missing.
Several boats have been deployed to the area, while a helicopter has been assisting from above. An underwater search-and-rescue team has also joined the operation in an effort to locate passengers who may still be in the water.
Television footage reportedly showed speedboats moving towards the area where the accident occurred, with a helicopter flying above the lake.
The Civil Protection Unit has recommended that the incident be formally declared a disaster, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.
## Boat transport vital for local communities
The accident has also drawn attention to the important role boat transport plays for communities living around Lake Kariba.
Local Member of Parliament Mutsa Murombedzi reportedly shared footage of passengers preparing to leave before the journey. She explained that residents in rural communities use boats to travel across the lake to Kariba town, with some journeys taking approximately five hours.
Concerns were reportedly raised before the trip about whether the vessel would be able to cope with strong waves.
## Lake Kariba presents rescue challenges
Lake Kariba is one of the world’s largest artificial lakes by volume and stretches for more than 200 kilometres along the Zambezi River.
The lake was created following the construction of the Kariba Dam during the late 1950s and early 1960s. It is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, with the international border running through the lake.
Its enormous size is expected to make the search for missing passengers particularly challenging.
As rescue teams continue working at the scene, authorities are expected to release further updates regarding the number of survivors, missing passengers and confirmed fatalities.
The tragedy has left families and communities anxiously awaiting news of their loved ones as the search operation continues across Lake Kariba.
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