The Zimbabwe Police have updated the balance of the incident recorded at Lake Kariba and have confirmed that the number of deceased has risen to 44 after the capsizing of a ferry that was sailing with an excess of passengers the night before.
This tragic accident, which occurred in the waters of Lake Kariba, in Zimbabwean territory, has led the country's president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, to declare a "state of disaster." The measure is adopted in light of the magnitude of the tragedy and the need to mobilize additional resources for emergency tasks.
"The Police of the Republic of Zimbabwe informs the public that the number of fatalities in the accident of the vessel RIDA (ferry belonging to the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency) of Kariba is now 44," it has indicated in a brief message disseminated on social media.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works had previously detailed in a statement that "at the time of the incident, the vessel was carrying 119 people, 114 adult passengers and five crew members, in addition to an undetermined number of children who are believed to have also been on board."
In its initial balance, the department reported 15 deceased, 77 people rescued alive, and 27 missing. The ferry, which covered the route between Kariba and Chalala, capsized after being hit by strong waves as it approached Long Island, causing many occupants to fall into the water.
The authorities have initiated the national search and rescue response through the Civil Protection Department, which has coordinated the deployment of specialized teams and the sending of a helicopter to the accident area. At the same time, the Government has declared a "state of disaster" under Article 27 of the Civil Protection Act to expedite the mobilization of human and material resources.
"The operation is being carried out in close collaboration with the Underwater Unit of the Police, the National Police of Zimbabwe, the Army's Boat Squadron, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders," the ministry has indicated, emphasizing the complexity of the tasks in an area of great depth.
The permanent secretary of Provincial Affairs and Decentralization of the province of Mashonaland West, Josphat Jaji, has specified that 114 tickets had been issued for the trip, to which five crew members were added, despite the authorized capacity of the vessel being 90 people, which points to a clear overload.
Lake Kariba, located on the Zambezi River and marking the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is considered the largest artificial lake and reservoir in the world by volume. The area had already been the scene of another tragedy in 2014, when 26 people, including 24 minors, lost their lives in the Zambian part of the lake after the sinking of the vessel they were traveling in.