22 More Bodies Pulled From Lake Kariba As Ferry Disaster Death Toll Climbs To 68
The silence over Lake Kariba has deepened into a scene of grief and devastation after authorities confirmed that the death toll from last week’s ferry disaster has risen to 68.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said 22 more bodies were recovered on 15 August 2026, bringing the number of victims retrieved from the lake to 68, five days after the passenger vessel capsized and disappeared beneath the waters.
Families who had been holding on to fading hope of finding their loved ones alive have now been confronted with the painful reality of one of Zimbabwe’s deadliest maritime tragedies.
Rescue teams remain on the water, continuing the grim search for more victims as questions mount over how the disaster unfolded and whether lives could have been saved.
Preliminary investigations have started pointing to a combination of possible factors, including a suspected navigational error, overloading of the vessel, and failure to heed warnings over dangerous weather conditions.
The tragedy struck last Tuesday when the vessel, carrying passengers across Lake Kariba, was overwhelmed by strong waves before overturning. Many on board were left fighting for survival in the lake as emergency teams raced against time to respond.
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President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the incident a National Disaster, while a technical report on the accident is expected to be presented to Cabinet as authorities seek answers over the circumstances that turned an ordinary journey into a national tragedy.
In a statement confirming the latest figures, the ZRP said: “The death toll in the Kariba RIDA boat accident is now 68 following the recovery of 22 bodies on 15 August 2026.”
As the waters of Lake Kariba continue to yield the remains of those lost, the nation remains in mourning, with the full scale of the tragedy still unfolding.
