At least 15 people have died and 27 others remain missing after the passenger ferry Mbuya Nehanda capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, according to local authorities cited by the national broadcaster ZBC and regional reporting from TPO.nl. Seventy-seven survivors reached safety on a small island following the disaster, which officials suggest may have been caused by severe weather and potential overcrowding.
Vessel Capacity and Passenger Manifest Discrepancies
According to Cecilia Chitiyo, provincial director at the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, the Mbuya Nehanda was authorized to carry a maximum of 90 people. However, ticket sales data examined by authorities revealed that at least 114 adults and five crew members had boarded the vessel for the trip from the town of Kariba to Chalala Fishing Camp. This initial count does not include young children, who are not required to purchase tickets, meaning the exact total of people on board remains uncertain.
Initial police statements had indicated a manifest of 90 passengers and five crew members before ticket sales pointed to a higher count. The voyage is a routine five-hour transit utilized by rural communities living along the shoreline to travel to and from the city of Kariba, as documented in video footage shared by Member of Parliament Mutsa Murombedzi.
Search and Rescue Operations on Lake Kariba
Search efforts are ongoing near Long Island where the vessel turned over. According to ZBC, specialized dive teams from the police and military, alongside the Civil Protection Unit, have been deployed to search for the 27 missing individuals around the wreck. The 77 survivors who managed to reach an island in the lake have been transported back to the mainland by boat, with recovered bodies brought to Andorra Harbour.
Did you know?
Formed in 1958 following the construction of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River, Lake Kariba sits on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. It is recognized as the largest man-made reservoir in the world by volume, stretching over 200 kilometers long and up to 40 kilometers wide.
Weather Warnings and Regional Safety Calls
Local media reports indicate that weather warnings regarding dangerously high waves and hard winds had been issued for the lake a day before the incident. The kapenta fishermen’s union has responded to the disaster by urging local vessel operators to strictly monitor weather conditions and inspect their crafts, given that strong winds routinely affect the massive reservoir during this seasonal period.
Ministry officials have recommended that the tragedy be formally declared a national disaster as recovery operations continue. Investigations into the exact sequence of events leading up to the capsizing remain active.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people survived the Lake Kariba ferry disaster?
According to authorities, 77 survivors were rescued after reaching a small island in the lake.
What caused the Mbuya Nehanda to capsize?
Authorities report that the vessel encountered hard wind and high waves, while ticket sales data also points to potential over-capacity.
Where does Lake Kariba lie?
Lake Kariba is situated directly on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
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