Police in Zimbabwe have reported the recovery of additional victims' bodies in the wake of a ferry capsizing incident that occurred near the border with Zambia earlier this week.
The death toll of the capsizing of the ferry Mbuya Nehanda in Mashonaland West province on Tuesday, August 11, has now increased to 44 from an initial tally of 15, making it the deadliest maritime incident on record to occur in the country, according to local officials.
Reports stated that the vessel overturned after being struck by a strong wave while underway on Lake Kariba between the Mashonaland West towns of Kariba and Chalala. Only 77 people have been rescued among the more than 120 who were on board.
Officials said the ferry was authorised to carry no more than 90 passengers and five crewmembers. However, initial reports revealed that the vessel may have been transporting as many as 114 adult passengers and a still undetermined number of small children when the tragedy occurred.
The search and recovery effort is still ongoing. The effort also includes inspections of the partially submerged vessel's onboard compartments.
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since declared a state of disaster under Section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act. This would then authorise the mobilisation of additional resources to aid in search and recovery operations.
Baird Maritime tracks global passenger vessel accidents in its comprehensive database, which can be accessed here.
