Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster: Death Toll Rises to 73
The death toll from the Lake Kariba ferry disaster has risen to 73 after rescue teams recovered 27 more bodies yesterday.
The latest recoveries came on the fifth day of an intensive search for victims of the passenger vessel that capsized last Tuesday.
Rescue teams remain on the lake as authorities work to locate any remaining bodies.
Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Muchechesi said 22 bodies had been recovered by yesterday afternoon.
“So far,… we have managed to retrieve 22 bodies and the rescue operation is still going on,” he said.
According to The Herald, five additional bodies were recovered later in the day, bringing the total for the day to 27.
Muchechesi said cold conditions were slowing the recovery process because bodies take longer to surface.
“We are expecting that by the seventh day all the bodies will be floating on the surface,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the teams would eventually recover all the victims for decent burials.
Also Read: 22 More Bodies Recovered From Lake Kariba As Ferry Disaster Death Toll Hits 68
Investigators probe what went wrong
Investigators are now examining several possible factors, including navigational errors, suspected overloading and the vessel’s response to worsening weather.
A technical report is expected to be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday.
The investigation is also looking at communications between the captain and the Lake Navigation Centre before the ferry overturned.
Preliminary findings indicate that the vessel itself may not have suffered structural damage before the accident.
Inland Waters Control director in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Lameck Chitenga, said the hull remained intact.
“The hull is a 10mm plate, that is still very intact, with no dents or rust,” he said.
According to Chitenga, the condition of the hull suggests that structural failure was unlikely to have caused the disaster.
Captain was reportedly warned about weather
Attention has therefore shifted towards operational issues surrounding the voyage.
Investigators say the captain had received a warning about deteriorating weather conditions from a controller at the Inland Waters Control Lake Navigation Centre.
The controller, identified as Tadzembwa, reportedly advised Captain Sign Patsikadova that conditions were becoming unsafe.
Patsikadova allegedly responded that he would slow down and look for a place to dock if the weather worsened.
Kariba has an automatic weather station that provides warnings about changing weather conditions.
Investigators are now examining whether the captain’s decision to continue the journey contributed to the accident.
Possible overloading under investigation
Authorities are also investigating whether the vessel was carrying too many passengers or whether passengers were unevenly distributed.
The ferry was designed to carry up to 90 passengers and five crew members.
Chitenga said passenger distribution could affect a vessel’s stability, particularly during rough weather.
“While the vessel may be able to carry up to 20 tonnes, for passengers, having more people means that the extras have no seats,” he said.
He explained that passengers without seats could move or be thrown to one side when the vessel encounters a large wave.
That could cause the ferry to tilt and make it more vulnerable to capsizing.
Navigational error could have allowed water inside
Investigators are also examining how the ferry approached the large wave that eventually overturned it.
Chitenga said a possible navigational error could have contributed to water entering the vessel.
The water reportedly affected the engine compartment before the situation escalated.
However, authorities stressed that the findings remain preliminary.
Investigators are still gathering evidence before reaching a final conclusion on what caused the disaster.
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