Death toll from Zimbabwe ferry disaster rises to 72
Al Jazeera
β’Sat, 15 Aug 2026 19:10:06 +0000
π° What Happened
The death toll from a ferry disaster in Zimbabwe rose to 72. Twenty-six more bodies were recovered from the ferry. The boat capsized on Lake Kariba on Tuesday. Police said the boat was overloaded. It carried about 153 people, but it was only allowed to carry 90 passengers. Among the dead were at least 18 children. The captain, Sign Patsikadova, 59, is also confirmed dead. Search and recovery work continued on Saturday.
π The Backstory
The ferry left Kariba town harbour with an estimated 153 people on board. Survivors said high winds caused choppy waves that flooded the boat shortly after departure. Passengers urged the operator to turn back, but the vessel continued into open water. It then rolled over. About 77 people were rescued. Many were taken to a nearby island before being moved to health facilities in Kariba town. Police divers, military personnel and local fishermen took part in the rescue.
π― Why It Matters
The disaster shows how risky it is when boats carry more passengers than they can safely handle. It also highlights safety problems in boat travel on lakes across the region.
The death toll from a ferry disaster in Zimbabwe rose to 72. Twenty-six more bodies were recovered from the ferry. The boat capsized on Lake Kariba on Tuesday. Police said the boat was overloaded. It carried about 153 people, but it was only allowed to carry 90 passengers. Among the dead were at least 18 children. The captain, Sign Patsikadova, 59, is also confirmed dead. Search and recovery work continued on Saturday.
The ferry left Kariba town harbour with an estimated 153 people on board. Survivors said high winds caused choppy waves that flooded the boat shortly after departure. Passengers urged the operator to turn back, but the vessel continued into open water. It then rolled over. About 77 people were rescued. Many were taken to a nearby island before being moved to health facilities in Kariba town. Police divers, military personnel and local fishermen took part in the rescue.
The disaster shows how risky it is when boats carry more passengers than they can safely handle. It also highlights safety problems in boat travel on lakes across the region.