Rescue teams dispatched to Long Island as search for Kariba ferry disaster survivors continues
Rescue teams were dispatched to Long Island early Wednesday to intensify the search for individuals still missing after the Mbuyanehanda Ferry capsized on Lake Kariba on Tuesday. The incident has left Kariba in mourning, with 13 bodies recovered by Tuesday evening. The Civil Protection Unit corrected an earlier figure of 15 bodies. A total of 64 passengers have been rescued, with 57 housed at the Mahombekombe Primary School Trauma Centre and seven admitted to Kariba District Hospital, three of whom have since been discharged. Unusual overnight showers added to the somber mood as friends and relatives gathered at the hospital mortuary. Rescue teams, supported by divers and local authorities, are searching the waters around Long Island and nearby channels. The exact number of people aboard the ferry remains unclear, and authorities are working to reconcile conflicting passenger figures. The Mbuyanehanda Ferry, operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, capsized near Long Island while traveling from Kariba to Chalala Fishing Camp. Officials have urged the public to rely only on verified updates from the Zimbabwe Republic Police and government authorities.
