Zimbabwe ferry disaster death toll climbs to 84 as search continues

Rescue teams in Zimbabwe recovered 12 more bodies on Sunday from last week's ferry disaster on Lake Kariba, pushing the death toll to 84, police said. The vessel capsized on Tuesday after being hit by strong waves, and authorities have confirmed that 77 people were rescued.

The search operation remains active, with police stating that efforts are underway to recover victims still listed as missing. The ferry was authorized to carry 90 passengers, but estimates suggest as many as 153 people may have been aboard, and the latest figures indicate the actual number could be even higher.

Among the confirmed dead are 18 children, including a one-year-old. Police reported that 16 of the victims were aged 10 or younger.

The aging ferry was traveling from the town of Kariba to rural and fishing communities in northwestern Zimbabwe, an area where damaged roads and scarce public transport make water travel essential.

Lake Kariba, the world's largest human-made lake by volume, was created by damming the Zambezi River in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It spans more than 200 kilometers and is up to 40 kilometers wide, with the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia running through its center.