The death toll in Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) ferry accident rose to 92 after the recovery of eight more bodies on Monday.
Police said two big boats, two small ones, more than 40 sub-aqua members and other resources had been deployed on the lake since August 11 to coordinate the rescue of victims, the search and the recovery of bodies.
“The police have also assisted the lake captain’s mobility and coordinated with other government agencies and stakeholders to ensure the identification of bodies is swiftly and professionally handled,” read a statement by police spokesperson Paul Nyathi in the capital Harare on Monday.
The accident occurred last Tuesday when the vessel carrying an estimated 153 people capsized due to strong winds on the world’s largest man-made lake.
Overloaded
The ferry was designed to carry only 90 passengers and five crew members. At least 18 of those killed were children.
“The police urge relatives to approach the command centre in Kariba and the local police station for any relevant and necessary information on the RIDA Lake Kariba accident,” Nyathi added.
