At least 44 people have died after a ferry sank on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, police have said.
The ferry, which had a capacity of 90 passengers and five crew members, sank on Tuesday after it was reportedly hit by a strong wave and overturned. Footage shared online appeared to show the overturned hull floating in the water.
However, conflicting figures have emerged over the number of people who were onboard. A lake official said 120 people, including 12 children, were on the vessel, while the Zimbabwe Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said registered ticket sales showed that 114 adults had boarded. The CPU added that an unknown number of children below ticketing age could also have been onboard.
Police said 44 bodies had been retrieved from the lake, up from an initial figure of 15, while 77 people had so far been rescued.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a state of disaster as search and rescue operations intensify.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe said the declaration would ensure that “all necessary resources are mobilised” for the rescue operation. The response includes an army boat squadron, a police sub-aqua unit and a privately owned helicopter.
An eyewitness, Maxton Kanhema, told AFP news agency that the ferry had travelled in bad weather and may have been struck by a wave, causing its engines to switch off.
“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 was quoted as saying.
Mutsa Murombedzi, a local member of parliament, posted a video on X that she said showed the boat at the start of its journey. She said residents had been travelling across the lake to Kariba town, a journey of about five hours.
“We have very hard questions that require honest answers. The officials must release the correct number of people who were onboard,” she wrote.
Lake Kariba, which straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs. It supports transport and fishing and provides vital hydroelectric power to both countries.
“The government extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives in this tragic incident,” Mr Garwe said in a statement.
