‘The Captain Told Us DDF Boats Don’t Kill People’: Survivor Recounts Lake Kariba Ferry Horror
A survivor of the Lake Kariba ferry disaster has described the terrifying moments before the RIDA passenger boat capsized.
The survivor said passengers noticed something was wrong shortly after leaving the harbour on Tuesday.
According to her account, waves began hitting the vessel and water started entering the boat.
She said luggage also began falling overboard as the journey continued.
Passengers reportedly alerted the captain and urged him to turn back.
However, the survivor claims their warnings were dismissed.
Also Read: Lake Kariba Ferry Tragedy: Captain Among 15 Dead, 77 Rescued As Search Continues For 27 Missing
Passengers confronted captain
Speaking to ZBC News, the survivor said passengers became increasingly concerned as the ferry struggled against the waves.
She claimed they told the captain that the conditions were unsafe.
According to her, the captain told them to keep quiet and continued with the journey.
The survivor said passengers again alerted him when bags began falling into the water.
Their concerns were dismissed again.
She said the vessel then started swaying and curving as it travelled further into the lake.
The situation became more alarming when passengers noticed water entering one side of the boat.
‘We were drowning’- Survivor Reveals
The survivor said passengers eventually realised the situation was becoming dangerous.
She claimed they told the captain that water was entering the vessel and that they were drowning.
According to her, the captain responded by questioning who had told them they were drowning.
She further claimed that he told passengers that “DDF boats don’t kill people”.
The ferry was formerly operated under the Department of District Development Fund before the agency became RIDA.
The survivor said water continued entering the boat despite repeated concerns from passengers.
As the vessel tilted further, people sitting on the affected side moved towards the opposite side.
Ferry reportedly operated on one engine
The survivor also claimed that the ferry was operating on one engine during part of the journey.
She said one engine had stopped working while the vessel continued moving.
However, the remaining engine later also stopped.
She said she could not establish whether the captain switched it off or whether it stopped on its own.
The loss of propulsion reportedly worsened an already desperate situation.
Passengers began panicking as the boat struggled to remain afloat.
Passengers scrambled for life jackets
The survivor said passengers attempted to find life jackets as the situation deteriorated.
She claimed the jackets had been stored on the boat but were not immediately available to everyone.
Some passengers reportedly managed to obtain life jackets.
Others could not find them and jumped into the water as the ferry began sinking.
The survivor said some people only found life jackets after entering the lake.
She also recalled passengers using sacks containing their luggage to help them remain afloat.
Rescuers arrived after an hour in the water
The survivor said those who escaped into the lake spent about an hour in the water.
They eventually saw a boat from Takashinga approaching to assist them.
The rescue brought relief to passengers who had been fighting to stay afloat.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the capsizing.
The post Lake Kariba Ferry Horror: Survivor Says Captain Dismissed Passengers’ Concerns Before Boat Capsized appeared first on iHarare News.
