A boat capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, resulting in at least 15 confirmed deaths, according to authorities. Police indicated the vessel was carrying 90 passengers and five crew members when it overturned after being struck by a strong wave. However, discrepancies emerged regarding the total number of people aboard, with the Zimbabwe Civil Protection Unit noting that registered ticket sales showed 114 adults had boarded the vessel, and an unknown number of children below ticketing age may also have been present.
Rescue and recovery operations continued following the incident. The Civil Protection Unit reported that 77 passengers had been rescued, while 15 bodies had been retrieved as of the reporting date. Two funeral parlours were coordinating collection of the deceased.
Lake Kariba, a major man-made reservoir located on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, serves as a critical transportation and fishing resource for the region while also generating hydroelectric power for both nations. A local member of parliament highlighted concerns about transparency, posting that residents had regularly used the vessel to cross the lake to Kariba town, a journey requiring approximately five hours. She called for officials to provide accurate information regarding passenger counts, stating that questions about the incident required honest answers.
Police said additional details would be released at a later time.
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