The death toll from the ferry disaster on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba has risen to 93, making it the country’s deadliest transport disaster, according to the state-run Herald newspaper.
The ferry overturned a week ago after being hit by a strong wave. While it was designed to carry 90 passengers, the Herald estimates that at least 168 people were on board.
Zimbabwean police said the death toll had risen from 44 at the time of the accident to 84 over the weekend. Divers later recovered nine more bodies, bringing the total to 93.
Recovery operations are continuing, with some bodies now being found farther from the sinking site, including near the Zambian border. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a state of disaster.
Provincial Affairs Minister Marian Chombo said 67 people had been rescued. She said identifying some victims had become increasingly difficult, with relatives relying on clothing and other personal items.
“We are running out of time and DNA may now be needed to assist in the identification process,” Chombo was quoted as saying.
Police said 83 victims had been identified so far, including 39 children.
A memorial service was held at a stadium in Kariba last week. The ferry had been carrying traders and parents returning home with children for the school holidays.
One survivor, Itayi Marumisa, told AFP that the boat was heavily loaded with goods and that passengers had raised concerns about the conditions before it capsized.
“The life jackets were buried under the luggage, and not more than 30 people managed to get them,” she said.
Lake Kariba, which lies on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, supports transport and fishing communities and provides hydroelectric power to both countries.
