The death toll from a ferry capsizing in Zimbabwe has climbed to 84, police have confirmed, in what is becoming one of the country’s deadliest maritime disasters in recent years.
The vessel was carrying passengers across a lake when it overturned, throwing dozens of people into the water. Rescue teams and local fishermen rushed to the scene, managing to pull some survivors to safety, but many others were swept away or trapped beneath the wreckage.
Authorities say the number of dead has continued to rise as recovery operations progress and more bodies are found along the shoreline. Police have not yet released the exact number of people who were on board, but they believe the ferry was severely overloaded, a factor that often contributes to accidents on Zimbabwe’s inland waterways.
Survivors described panic and chaos as the boat began to tip, with limited life jackets and few safety measures in place. Several of the injured remain in hospital, while families are still waiting for news about missing relatives.
The government has launched an investigation into the cause of the capsizing and has pledged to improve safety regulations on passenger ferries. Condolences have poured in from across the country, with officials calling for stricter enforcement of capacity limits and better emergency preparedness.
For the communities affected, the tragedy has left deep grief. As search efforts continue, the focus now turns to identifying the victims, supporting those who survived, and ensuring that such a devastating loss does not happen again.
