A ferry carrying 95 people capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, leaving several passengers feared dead. Police and eyewitnesses said strong waves caused the vessel to overturn during its journey.
The ferry regularly transports passengers between Kariba town and several islands and fishing camps. The incident has triggered a major rescue operation involving boats, divers, a helicopter and military personnel.
Lake Kariba sits along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The massive reservoir lies more than 300 kilometres northeast of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
It is also recognised as the world’s largest man-made lake by volume.
Ferry Overturns After Encountering Strong Waves
Police confirmed that the ferry was carrying 90 passengers and five crew members when it capsized. The vessel encountered difficult weather conditions while travelling across Lake Kariba.
One eyewitness said the ferry had departed normally during the morning despite the poor weather. Maxton Kanhema suggested that a large wave may have struck the vessel.
According to Kanhema, the impact may have caused the ferry’s engines to shut down. The situation then quickly became dangerous as the vessel struggled in the water.
“When we were in the waters, then you could see a distress sign and then boats that were close by responded,” Kanhema said.
Nearby boats responded after the distress signal became visible. However, worsening weather conditions complicated the rescue effort and delayed access to the capsized vessel.
Helicopter and Divers Join Lake Kariba Rescue
Rescue teams quickly mobilised after the ferry overturned. A helicopter from Matusado National Park joined larger boats and local divers in the operation.
Army personnel also participated in the rescue effort. Teams worked together to locate passengers and recover people from the water.
Kanhema described the scene as distressing, saying several people were in the water as rescue efforts continued.
“People were in distress… there were bodies in the water and it was a sad situation to witness. Those that could be rescued were rescued,” he added.
The eyewitness also explained that the poor weather affected the speed of the rescue response. Strong conditions made reaching the capsized ferry more difficult.
“However, due to the bad weather, the responses were a bit late,” he said. “Getting to the boat took time and unfortunately lives were lost.”
Around 60 People Reportedly Rescued
Kanhema said almost 60 people were reportedly rescued following the accident. However, authorities had not provided a final confirmed casualty figure at the time of the initial reports.
Bodies recovered from the lake were expected to be transported to Kariba. Authorities planned to identify those who died before providing further information to families.
The search and rescue operation continued as teams worked through the difficult weather conditions. Officials also faced the challenge of locating people who may have remained in the lake after the vessel overturned.
Police said additional information would be released “in due course.”
Lake Kariba Links Communities and Fishing Areas
The ferry plays an important role in transporting people across Lake Kariba. Its regular route connects Kariba town with islands and fishing camps scattered across the lake.
The vast reservoir stretches along the Zimbabwe-Zambia border and supports communities, tourism and fishing activities in the region.
The latest accident has highlighted the dangers of travelling across the lake during severe weather. Strong waves can create difficult conditions for vessels operating across its expansive waters.
As rescue teams continue their work, authorities are expected to establish the full circumstances behind the capsizing. The final number of casualties and survivors will become clearer once search operations and identification procedures are completed.
