The ferry was carrying at least 119 adults and crew, far exceeding its registered capacity of 90 passengers
At least 15 people have died and 27 remain missing after an overloaded passenger ferry capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, the country’s Civil Protection Unit said.
Emergency teams rescued 77 survivors after the vessel overturned. Those rescued were initially taken to a small island on the lake as rescue boats worked to transport them back to the mainland.
Authorities fear the death toll could rise as rescue teams continue searching for missing passengers.
Ferry was carrying more people than its capacity
The vessel, identified as the Mbuya Nehanda, was reportedly carrying significantly more people than its registered capacity when it capsized.
The ferry is licensed to carry a maximum of 90 passengers. However, ticket records showed that at least 114 adults and five crew members were on board. Authorities also believe several young children who were not required to have tickets may have been travelling on the vessel.
This means the actual number of people aboard could have been even higher, making it difficult to establish the final number of missing passengers.
The ferry is an important transport link for communities around Lake Kariba. It regularly carries residents, commuters and traders across the lake on a journey of about five hours to Kariba town.
Survivors rescued as search continues
A major search-and-rescue operation was launched following the accident. Speedboats were sent towards the overturned ferry while a military helicopter assisted teams searching the area.
Specialist underwater rescue personnel have also been deployed to search the submerged sections of the vessel for passengers who may still be trapped inside.
The 77 survivors were initially moved to a nearby island for safety before rescue crews began transferring them to the mainland.
Local lawmaker Mutsa Murombedzi posted footage online showing the ferry shortly before it departed. The video appeared to show a large number of people aboard the ageing vessel, while people on shore raised concerns about its heavy load and the rough conditions on the lake.
Authorities consider national disaster declaration
Zimbabwe’s disaster management authorities have recommended that the ferry accident be declared a national disaster because of the scale of the loss of life and its impact on communities around Lake Kariba.
Officials have yet to determine the exact cause of the capsizing. Investigators are expected to examine the vessel’s passenger load, safety conditions and weather and water conditions at the time of the accident.
Lake Kariba is major regional waterway
Lake Kariba lies along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and was created by the construction of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River.
Stretching for more than 200 kilometres through the Zambezi Valley, it is one of the world’s largest man-made lakes by volume and is an important source of transport, fishing and economic activity for communities in the region.
The ongoing rescue operation is expected to continue as authorities search for the 27 people still reported missing and work to establish the full scale of the tragedy.
Source: firstpost.com