Harare, Zimbabwe — The death toll from the Lake Kariba ferry disaster in Zimbabwe has now reached 68, with 18 children among the fatalities, as authorities continue their search efforts.
The ferry, which capsized on Tuesday on Lake Kariba, was reportedly overloaded, with 114 adults, five crew members, and an unspecified number of children aboard, exceeding its authorized capacity of 90. Lt Col Joseph Muchechesi, commander of the boat regiment involved in the 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.
Officials commented on the matter. “.
The incident has drawn attention to the safety standards and oversight of ferry operations on Lake Kariba, which is the world’s largest manmade lake by volume and a popular destination for recreation. It was created in the 1950s during British colonial rule when the Zambezi River was dammed, displacing about 57,000 people.
The public has been gathering at the district hospital in the lakeside town of Kariba to identify the bodies of their relatives and loved ones.
A public memorial service was held before the burials began.
As the investigation into the tragedy continues, officials are under pressure to address the deficiencies in maritime safety and prevent similar accidents in the future.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: The guardian
Source: Nadeem Badshah
