Zimbabwe says Lake Kariba ferry death toll has risen to 68

Zimbabwean police said on Saturday, August 15, 2026, that 22 more bodies had been recovered after a passenger ferry capsized on Lake Kariba, raising the confirmed death toll to 68.

The vessel overturned on Tuesday, August 11, during heavy winds on the lake along Zimbabwe’s border with Zambia. An initial investigation indicated that the ferry was overloaded. Police said 18 children were among those killed.

Officials said the boat was authorised to carry 90 people but had 114 adults, five crew members and an unspecified number of children aboard. The country’s civil protection unit reported that 77 people had been rescued. Search teams continued recovery work as families gathered in Kariba to identify victims.

The disaster is believed to be Zimbabwe’s deadliest boat accident. Survivors said the vessel began taking on water after departure and that many passengers struggled to use lifejackets. A public memorial was held in Kariba on Thursday, August 13, before burials began.