By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
FIFTEEN (15) people are known to have died when a boat designed for 90 carried at least 119 passengers and crew when capsized on Lake Kariba on Tuesday.
The acciddent could easily be the worst in living history known to have occured on Zimbabwe and Africa’s largest man-made water body.
So far those 15 have been confirmed dead while 27 people remain unaccounted for, according to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU).
Mashonaland West Provincial Administrator and CPU head Cecilia Chitiyo said in a statement on Tuesday evening, the vessel had 114 adult passengers and five crew members on board.
There were also children below the ticketing age whose number had not yet been established.
The figures mean the boat was carrying at least 29 more people than its stated capacity of 90.
Chitiyo said the number of adult passengers was confirmed through tickets obtained from the accounts.
So far, 77 passengers have been rescued by Matusadonha rescue teams and other rescuers.
The survivors are currently on Long Island in Lake Kariba, where CPU teams are working to transport them back to the mainland.
“15 bodies have also been retrieved, and two funeral parlours have been engaged to collect these bodies for processing,” Chitiyo said.
The rescue operation has since been intensified, with the Sub-Aqua Unit airlifted to the scene to assist with the search for those still missing.
Authorities say the figures remain subject to change as the search and rescue operation continues.
“This is the report to date, but you will be continuously updated as the search and rescue unfolds,” Chitiyo said.
The incident has raised concerns over the circumstances that led to a vessel with a stated capacity of 90 carrying more than 119 adults and crew, before accounting for children below ticketing age.
Search and rescue operations remain underway on Lake Kariba.
More details to follow.