Zimbabwe ferry disaster: Death toll on Lake Kariba rises to 44

The death toll from Tuesday's ferry capsizing on Lake Kariba has risen to 44, Zimbabwean police confirmed on Wednesday. In a statement posted on X, police said the bodies had been recovered from the lake, which forms part of the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. However, authorities did not provide updated figures on the number of injured or missing.

The ferry, operated by a government agency, was carrying at least 114 adult passengers and five crew members when it capsized, according to Zimbabwe's disaster management agency. The vessel had a stated carrying capacity of 90 people, indicating it was overloaded at the time of the incident.

The exact number of people on board remains uncertain, as the figures only account for those who purchased tickets. Children below ticketing age may have been aboard without being counted, officials noted.

The ferry is commonly used by residents of rural communities around the lake to travel to the town of Kariba, located on the lake's shore. Rescue and recovery efforts are ongoing.