Zimbabwe Ferry Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 68, 18 Children Among Victims
Zimbabwe Ferry Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 68, 18 Children Among Victims
Tragedy strikes Lake Kariba as an overloaded ferry capsizes, claiming 68 lives, including 18 children. Rescue operations continue as families mourn in Zimbabwe's deadliest boat disaster.
Twenty-two more bodies have been recovered following a devastating boat accident on Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba, bringing the total death toll to 68, police confirmed on Saturday. This tragic incident, believed to be the country's deadliest such disaster, saw an overloaded ferry capsize during heavy winds earlier this week. In a heartbreaking detail, 18 children are among those who lost their lives.
The ill-fated vessel was crossing Lake Kariba, which borders Zambia, when the tragedy occurred. Investigations suggest the ferry was authorized to carry 90 people, but was packed with 114 adults, five crew members, and an unspecified number of children, leading to its capsizing.
Lt Col Joseph Muchechesi, commander of the boat regiment involved in the extensive search operation, stated, "So far today we have managed to take 22 bodies. We are confident that we will manage to retrieve all the bodies." The civil protection unit had previously reported that 77 people were rescued from the disaster. Most of the passengers are believed to have been local villagers and fish traders.
The lakeside town of Kariba has been gripped by grief, with hundreds of people gathering at the district hospital to identify their relatives and loved ones. A public memorial service was held in Kariba, nearly 280km (175 miles) north-west of the capital Harare, on Thursday, providing a moment for the community to mourn and remember the victims.
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