A ferry capsizes on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba, leaving at least 15 people dead and 27 missing

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — An overloaded ferry capsized on Zimbabwe ‘s Lake Kariba on Tuesday, killing at least 15 people and leaving 27 missing, the national disaster management agency said. It said 77 people were rescued and made it to a small island on the lake, with boats now being dispatched to bring the survivors back.

Zimbabwean state broadcaster ZBC published video of speedboats making their way to what appeared to be an overturned boat on the lake as a helicopter hovered overhead. An underwater team for search and rescue operations was deployed on the huge lake, which forms part of the border between Zimbabwe and neighboring Zambia.

The statement from Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit said it could only confirm through registered ticket sales that there were 114 adult passengers onboard, along with five crew members. There could have been an unknown number of children below ticketing age who were onboard and not accounted for, it said.

The boat has a carrying capacity of 90 people, the agency said, adding its recommendation that the accident be officially declared a disaster.