KARIBA, Aug. 11 (NewsDay Live) — Government says dozens of people, including an unknown number of children are missing after the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency’s Mbuyanehanda Ferry capsized in Lake Kariba on Tuesday afternoon.
Cecilia Chitiyo, Provincial Director in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, said the ferry was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members and an unknown number of children when it capsized near Long Island.
The vessel's stated carrying capacity was 90 people, raising concerns that it was overloaded.
“Fifteen bodies have also been retrieved and Nyaradzo and Doves Funeral Parlours have been engaged to collect these bodies for processing,” Chitiyo said.
The 77 survivors are being sheltered on Long Island as the Civil Protection Unit mobilises boats to transport them to the mainland.
Sub-aqua units from the police and army have deployed to the scene to assist with the search and recovery operation.
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The disaster has been complicated by conflicting accounts of the number of people aboard the vessel.
A witness involved in the rescue operation said the actual number could have been significantly higher because some passengers, including children, did not require tickets.
“There were 90 paid passengers, but anybody over 60 doesn't pay, so [we] assumed 154 on board,” the witness said.
The witness said 63 people were rescued on Long Island, while another 12 were picked up by a houseboat returning to Kariba. The witness also reported seven bodies recovered and about 79 people missing, although those figures could not independently be verified.
Earlier, police had said the ferry was carrying 90 passengers and five crew members.
Children under the age of four were reportedly not required to have tickets, making it difficult for authorities to establish the exact number of passengers aboard the ferry.
The ferry was carrying passengers and goods from Kariba to Chalala Fishing Camp when it capsized near Long Island due to high waves.
Local radio presenter Given Siakanoka, who said he had relatives aboard the vessel, described the disaster as devastating.
“I am yet to know whether my relatives have survived,” he said.
Families have begun gathering along the lake shore as police, army personnel, the Civil Protection Unit and other authorities continue the search for survivors and victims.
The Local Government ministry has recommended that the accident be declared a State of Disaster.
The circumstances surrounding the capsizing were not immediately clear.
The disaster has also raised fresh concerns over safety and enforcement of passenger limits on Lake Kariba.
Authorities said further details would be released as the search and rescue operation continues.