KARIBA, Aug. 12 (NewsDay Live) — Rescue teams were dispatched to Long Island early Wednesday as authorities intensified the search for people still missing after the Mbuyanehanda Ferry capsized on Lake Kariba a day earlier.
The deployment came as Kariba woke to mourning, with 13 bodies recovered by Tuesday evening and scores of survivors accounted for.
The Civil Protection Unit corrected an earlier figure of 15 bodies, saying 13 had been recovered.
A total of 64 passengers had been rescued, with 57 housed at the newly activated Mahombekombe Primary School Trauma Centre and seven admitted to Kariba District Hospital. Three of those admitted had since been discharged by Wednesday morning.
Unusual showers fell over Kariba overnight, adding to the sombre mood as friends and relatives gathered at the hospital mortuary to identify their loved ones.
A member of the rescue team, who requested anonymity, said teams were combing waters around Long Island and nearby channels, supported by divers and local authorities familiar with the lake.
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“We will not leave any area unchecked,” he said. “The search continues today until we account for everyone.”
The exact number of people aboard the ferry remains unclear, with authorities still working to reconcile conflicting passenger figures.
The Mbuyanehanda Ferry, operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), capsized near Long Island on Tuesday afternoon while travelling from Kariba to Chalala Fishing Camp.
Officials have urged the public to rely only on verified updates from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and government authorities as the search and recovery operation continues.