Zimbabwe: Boat Accident Leaves 15 Dead and 27 Missing

Kariba, 12 August 2026 - At least 15 people have died and 27 others remain missing after an overloaded boat capsized on Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe. The vessel overturned on Tuesday after encountering strong waves, while at least 77 passengers were rescued.

The boat, which was designed to carry 90 people, was transporting passengers between Kariba, nearby islands and fishing areas. Ticket records indicated that 114 adults and five crew members were aboard, although authorities warned that children who did not require tickets may not have been included in the count.

Search and rescue operations remain underway, with police, soldiers, divers, local boats and a helicopter deployed to locate survivors and recover victims. Witnesses said the vessel had departed in poor weather and may have been struck by a large wave that caused its engines to fail.

Lake Kariba, located along the Zimbabwe-Zambia border more than 300 kilometres northeast of Harare, is the world’s largest man-made lake. It was created following the construction of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River.