Ferry Carrying 95 People Capsizes In Zimbabwe

A ferry carrying 95 people capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Tuesday, with rescue operations under way, police said.

The vessel was carrying 90 passengers and five crew members when it overturned after encountering strong waves, according to local media reports. The ferry provides transport between the northern town of Kariba and several islands and fishing camps on the lake.

Police said rescue teams had been deployed and were working to locate and assist people who were on board when the vessel capsized. Local media reported that some passengers had been rescued, but authorities had not confirmed the exact number as of Tuesday evening.

Several people were also feared dead, although officials had not released a confirmed death toll at the time of reporting. The number of people still missing was also not immediately known.

The incident occurred on Lake Kariba, a major waterway along Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia. The lake is more than 300 kilometres northeast of Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, and is the world’s largest man-made lake by volume.

The ferry serves communities and other destinations around the lake, including islands and fishing camps. Authorities had not disclosed what caused the strong waves or provided further details about the vessel’s condition.

Rescue operations were continuing as authorities worked to establish the number of survivors and casualties. Further details on the incident were expected as the search operation progressed.

SOURCE: AFP