44 dead, 77 rescued: Boat capsizes in Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba 

HARARE: At least 44 people have died after an overcrowded boat capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, while 77 people were rescued, authorities said. The accident occurred on Tuesday in Lake Kariba, a man-made reservoir that straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The vessel had a carrying capacity of 90 people but was carrying 114 adult passengers and five crew members, according to the Zimbabwe Civil Protection Unit. An unspecified number of children who were below the ticketing age may also have been on board. Police said the boat capsized after being hit by strong waves during the journey. Witness accounts also indicated that the vessel encountered rough weather before overturning.

Lake Kariba is used by communities in Zimbabwe and Zambia for transport and fishing and is also an important source of hydroelectric power. Zimbabwean authorities have confirmed that 44 bodies were recovered. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, with specialist underwater teams involved in the search.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the incident a State of Disaster as emergency response and recovery efforts continued. The government expressed condolences to the families of those who died and sympathy to those injured in the accident.