KARIBA — At least 15 people have died and 27 others remain unaccounted for following a boat accident on Lake Kariba, the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has confirmed.
According to an official statement issued by the CPU, the boat was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and an undisclosed number of children who were below the ticketing age when the accident occurred.
The vessel had a carrying capacity of 90 people, meaning the number of passengers on board exceeded its stated capacity.
The CPU said 77 passengers had so far been rescued by Matusadonha rescue teams and other responders. The survivors are currently on Long Island in Lake Kariba, with boats mobilised to transport them to the mainland.
“15 bodies have also been retrieved,” the CPU said, adding that two funeral parlours had been engaged to collect the bodies for processing.
Based on the figures available, about 27 people remain unaccounted for, although the CPU cautioned that the number could change as rescue teams establish the full passenger manifest and continue searching the accident scene.
The Sub Aqua Unit has also been airlifted to the scene to reinforce the ongoing search and rescue operation.
The CPU said the situation remained fluid and that further updates would be issued as the search and rescue operation progresses.
The department has recommended that the accident be declared a state of disaster, underscoring the scale of the emergency and the need for intensified rescue and recovery efforts.
The accident has triggered a major emergency response involving rescue teams, boats and specialist divers as authorities continue the search for those still missing.
