The incident occurred on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, Aug. 11
Credit: GUILLEM SARTORIO/AFP via Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A boat has capsized on a lake in Zimbabwe, leaving at least 15 dead and dozens missing
- The tragic incident occurred on Lake Kariba on Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Rescue operations are ongoing, with 77 people rescued and 27 still missing, according to local officials
At least 15 people have died after a boat carrying over 100 people capsized on a lake in Zimbabwe, according to reports.
The incident occurred on Lake Kariba on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Dozens remain missing, with rescue operations continuing, per the BBC, Sky News and local media outlet New Zimbabwe.
Seventy-seven people have been rescued so far, per the outlets. The New Zimbabwe reported that 27 people remain missing, citing Cecilia Chitiyo, chair of the Provincial Civil Protection Unit (CPU).
According to the BBC and Sky News, the CPU said that 114 adult passengers were on board, along with five crew members. The CPU said the number was confirmed through ticket sales, but added that an unknown number of children could have also been on board the vessel below the age for which tickets were needed.
Credit: De Agostini/Getty
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) had earlier reported that 90 passengers and five crew were on board in a post shared on X.
The boat has a capacity of 90 passengers, the CPU said, per Sky News.
Authorities told the BBC that the boat was hit by a strong wave and capsized.
According to the outlet, Lake Kariba borders Zimbabwe and Zambia and is one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs. It supports transport, fishing and provides hydroelectric power to both African countries.
The boat, called Mbuya Nehanda, was sailing from Kariba to Chalala fishing camps when it capsized, per New Zimbabwe.
Chitiyo confirmed that 15 bodies had been recovered, per New Zimbabwe, with the outlet reporting that the death toll is expected to rise.
Credit: De Agostini/Getty
In a follow-up post on X, police shared, “The ZRP assures Zimbabweans and relatives of the Kariba boat accident victims that official information on the rescued victims, those injured or dead, will be released in due course after the scene management process is complete.”
Mutsa Murombedzi, a local member of parliament, per the BBC, also posted a video on X of what she said was the boat at the start of the journey.
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“Communities used this boat as transport from rural Kariba to Kariba urban,” the post read. “It would take some 5hrs or so to cross Lake Kariba. We have very hard questions that require honest answers. The officials must release the correct number of people who were onboard.”
PEOPLE has contacted the CPU and Zimbabwe Republic Police for comment.
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