Kariba ferry accident death toll rises to 44
The death toll from the Kariba RIDA boat accident has increased to 44, according to police. Rescue teams retrieved additional bodies, including adults and children, near Long Island on Wednesday morning, which were then transported to the mortuary in Kariba. Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs minister, Mary Chombo, has requested that the accident be declared a national disaster, noting its unprecedented magnitude in Kariba's history. Previously, the Civil Protection Unit reported 13 bodies recovered by Tuesday evening. A total of 64 passengers were 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. The Mbuyanehanda Ferry, operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency RIDA, capsized near Long Island while traveling from Kariba to Chalala Fishing Camp. The exact number of people aboard the ferry remains unconfirmed.
