Kariba, Zimbabwe (Running Africa) — The death toll from the Lake Kariba ferry disaster in Zimbabwe has risen to at least 44, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors and recovering bodies following Tuesday’s deadly sinking.

The latest figure represents a sharp increase from the 15 deaths initially reported after the passenger vessel overturned while crossing Lake Kariba, the vast reservoir shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Authorities believe more than 120 people, including children, may have been aboard the ferry, raising concerns that the vessel was carrying significantly more passengers than its stated capacity of 95.

Lake Kariba Ferry Death Toll Climbs to 44

Police said the ferry capsized after being struck by a strong wave while transporting passengers across the lake.

At least 77 people have been rescued, but emergency teams remain deployed as authorities work to locate anyone still missing and recover additional victims.

The rising death toll has transformed the accident into a major national disaster and intensified scrutiny over how many people were actually aboard the vessel.

Ferry May Have Been Over Capacity

Authorities believe the ferry was carrying more than 120 passengers, including children, despite having a reported capacity of 95 passengers and crew.

The apparent overcrowding is expected to become a central focus of the investigation into the disaster.

Questions have also emerged over passenger records, with conflicting figures making it difficult to establish exactly how many people were on board when the vessel capsized.

Local leaders have called for greater transparency as families await information about missing relatives.

Mnangagwa Declares State of Disaster

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a state of disaster, allowing the government to mobilize additional resources for the ongoing search and recovery operation.

Emergency personnel continue working across the affected area as authorities attempt to establish a definitive passenger count and determine whether more people remain unaccounted for.

The investigation is also expected to examine whether overcrowding, weather conditions or other safety failures contributed to the high number of casualties.

Lake Kariba Disaster Raises Passenger Safety Concerns

Lake Kariba stretches along the Zimbabwe-Zambia border and is one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs.

The lake plays a critical role in transportation, fishing, tourism and hydroelectric power generation, supporting communities and economies on both sides of the border.

Passenger boats are an important form of transportation for communities around the reservoir, making vessel capacity, safety standards and accurate passenger records critical to preventing deadly accidents.

With at least 44 people now confirmed dead, the latest disaster has renewed questions over enforcement of those safeguards.

As search operations continue, Zimbabwean authorities face growing pressure to account for everyone who boarded the ferry and establish how a routine journey across Lake Kariba ended in one of the country’s deadliest recent maritime disasters.