The death toll from the Kariba RIDA boat accident has risen to 80 following the recovery of eight more bodies on Sunday, 16 August 2026.
The latest figures were released by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in an update issued at 2 pm, confirming that eight bodies had been retrieved during the latest search and recovery operation.
According to the police, the identification process for the newly recovered bodies is still underway.
The latest recoveries bring the number of bodies retrieved since the tragedy to 80, further deepening the scale of the disaster that has shocked the nation.
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday when a Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) boat carrying more than 100 passengers capsized on Lake Kariba.
Search and recovery operations have continued since the accident, with authorities recovering bodies from the lake as efforts to account for all those who were on board intensify.
The rising death toll has left families and communities mourning their loved ones, while relatives continue to await information on missing passengers.
Police are expected to provide further updates as the identification process progresses and more information becomes available.
