At least 15 people have died after a boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba, with rescue teams still searching for survivors amid concerns the vessel may have been overloaded.
The boat overturned on Tuesday after being struck by a strong wave, according to Zimbabwean police.
Police said 90 passengers and five crew members were believed to be on board when the vessel sank. However, the country’s Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said ticket records showed that 114 adults had registered for the journey, raising questions about how many people were actually on the boat.
The CPU said 77 passengers had so far been rescued, while 15 bodies had been recovered. Two funeral parlours were assisting authorities with the collection of the bodies.
Officials also warned that the true number of people on board could be higher because children below the ticketing age may not have been recorded.
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The incident has raised fresh concerns about safety on Lake Kariba, one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs. The lake lies along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and is an important route for transport and fishing, while also supplying hydroelectric power to both countries.
Mutsa Murombedzi, a local member of parliament, shared a video on X showing what she said was the boat at the beginning of its journey.
She said residents regularly use the vessel to travel across the lake to Kariba town, a journey that can take about five hours.
“We have very hard questions that require honest answers,” Murombedzi wrote, calling on officials to establish and publish the exact number of people who were aboard.
The cause of the capsizing is still being investigated, although police said the vessel was hit by a strong wave and may have been overloaded.
Rescue operations are continuing, with authorities expected to provide further details as the search progresses.
