The death toll from the ferry disaster on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe has risen to 92 after eight more bodies were recovered on Monday. The search continues six days after the catastrophe, considered the deadliest of its kind in the country's history.
Zimbabwean police announced Monday the recovery of eight more bodies from the waters of Lake Kariba, bringing the total number of victims to at least 92. The previous day, authorities had recorded 84 deaths since the ferry capsized on Tuesday during strong winds near the Zambian border.
Four boats and more than forty divers have been mobilized to search for the remaining victims. Police have indicated they expect all the bodies to be recovered.
The ferry connected the town of Kariba in northern Zimbabwe to rural and fishing communities in the northwest of the country. Its official capacity was 90 people, but initial reports indicated significant overloading: the vessel was carrying up to 153 passengers and crew members at the time of the tragedy. Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of people on board.
Among the victims are at least 18 children. Images broadcast Saturday by local media showed hundreds of people gathered outside the regional hospital trying to identify their loved ones.
River transport is common in this isolated area, where roads are in poor condition and public transport is virtually nonexistent. President Emmerson Mnangagwa described the disaster as "tragic" last week, saying it revealed serious shortcomings that needed to be addressed immediately.
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