Ferry capsizes in Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba: 72 dead, at least 18 children missing

The death toll from the capsizing of an overloaded ferry on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba has risen to 72, including at least 18 children, as rescuers continue searching the vast reservoir for victims. Police said 26 additional bodies were recovered following Tuesday’s disaster, when the aging vessel overturned amid strong waves while traveling from the town of Kariba toward remote communities in the country’s northwest, where damaged roads and limited public transport make water travel an essential lifeline for many residents. Authorities have not yet confirmed how many people were aboard or how many remain missing, but estimates suggest the ferry may have been carrying as many as 153 passengers despite having a stated capacity of just 90. Zimbabwe’s disaster management agency said 77 people were rescued alive. A police list later revealed the devastating toll among children, with 16 of the victims aged 10 or younger and the youngest just one year old. The tragedy has raised renewed questions over vessel safety, passenger limits and transport conditions in remote parts of Zimbabwe, while the circumstances surrounding the ferry’s apparent overloading are expected to face scrutiny. Lake Kariba, created by damming the Zambezi River in the late 1950s and early 1960s, is the world’s largest human-made lake by volume, stretching more than 200 kilometers and reaching widths of up to 40 kilometers in some areas. The lake is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, with the international border running through its middle. As rescue teams continue their search, the disaster has left communities mourning one of the country’s deadliest recent maritime accidents