Zimbabwe: Kariba ferry capsizes with 95 bboard, rescue underway

A passenger ferry carrying 90 passengers and five crew members capsized near Long Island on Lake Kariba on Tuesday afternoon, triggering a major search and rescue operation amid fears that several people have died.

The vessel, identified as the RIDA Mbuyanehanda Ferry, overturned as emergency teams raced to the scene to pull passengers from the water.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the incident, saying a DDF boat carrying 90 people and five crew members had capsized in the lake and that rescue efforts were underway.

Water and Inland Department Lake Captain Adan Nyekete confirmed the accident but said he was still awaiting further details as emergency teams were deployed.

The rescue operation has drawn in local authorities, the Matusadona Conservation Trust, the Police Sub-Aqua Unit and the army.

A witness involved in the rescue effort said at least 15 people have now been confirmed dead, while 74 others have been rescued, though the figures could not be independently verified and differ from the police’s earlier count.

Rescue teams have continued searching the waters for passengers who remain unaccounted for, with social media footage showing passengers in distress, including a child struggling in the water.

Sources said about 40 children were believed to have been on board, some still not accounted for, and noted that children under four did not require tickets, making it harder for authorities to confirm exactly how many people were on the vessel.

The conflicting passenger figures have raised concerns the ferry may have been carrying more than 100 people, potentially indicating overloading; it was reportedly travelling from Kariba to Chalala Fishing Camp when it capsized.