The death toll from the shipwreck that occurred on Tuesday on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, has now risen to 44, according to police, while 77 passengers have been rescued. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster on Wednesday following the accident.
The boat, which was carrying at least 119 adults and an undetermined number of children, capsized due to bad weather and strong waves, authorities said. Survivors found refuge on the hull of the vessel after it overturned.
The ship, owned by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), was operating between Kariba and Chalala, with stops at several islands and fishing villages.
Search operations continued on Wednesday. Divers were mobilized to locate any potential victims still inside the wreckage. The search was interrupted around 4:30 PM local time due to nightfall and is scheduled to resume on Thursday morning.
The 77 rescued individuals were taken to Long Island, located in the middle of the lake. A helicopter and several boats also participated in the rescue operations, which were hampered by weather conditions.
According to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU), the boat had a capacity of 90 passengers. A witness cited by AFP indicated that a large wave struck the vessel, affecting its engine and causing it to stall before capsizing.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa lamented a tragedy that he said revealed deficiencies in the country’s naval resources and called for them to be addressed quickly.
Lake Kariba, located more than 300 kilometers northwest of Harare, is shared between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It is the world’s largest artificial lake by volume.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-12 18:23:42 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://2424.mg/catastrophe-le-bilan-dun-naufrage-survenu-mardi-sur-le-lac-kariba-au-zimbabwe-atteint-44-morts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=catastrophe-le-bilan-dun-naufrage-survenu-mardi-sur-le-lac-kariba-au-zimbabwe-atteint-44-morts