At least 15 dead, dozens missing as ferry capsizes in Zimbabwe

At least 15 people have been killed and 27 remain missing after an overloaded ferry capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba , according to the country’s Civil Protection Unit.

The boat overturned on Tuesday after hitting strong waves, the agency said in a statement, adding that at least 77 people were rescued.

The boat provides transport between the northern town of Kariba and several islands and fishing camps and was carrying more than its capacity of 90 people when it capsized, the agency said.

While exact numbers of passengers and crew are yet to be announced, the agency said it could only confirm through registered ticket sales that there were 114 adult passengers on board, along with five crew members.

There could have been an unknown number of children below ticketing age who were on board and not accounted for, the agency added.

Zimbabwe’s national police service said rescue efforts were under way.

The 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, it said.

Witness Maxton Kanhema told the AFP news agency that the vessel departed in bad weather, and that a wave may have hit the boat, causing its engines to switch off.