Mirian Gom 
ZIMBABWE – The Zimbabwe ferry accident death toll has risen to 68 after rescue teams recovered 22 more bodies from Lake Kariba, police say.
Authorities announce the updated casualty figure on Saturday following recovery operations after the government-operated ferry capsizes in rough waters on Tuesday.
Police confirm the latest development in a brief statement.
“The death toll in the Kariba RIDA boat accident is now 68 following the recovery of 22 bodies.”
The passenger vessel, operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), overturns while carrying more passengers than authorised.
Officials say the ferry is licensed to transport 90 passengers, but carries 114 adults, five crew members and an unspecified number of children at the time of the accident.
The Civil Protection Unit says 77 people are rescued.
Most passengers are villagers and fish traders living around Lake Kariba, which lies along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia.
Survivors report that they urge the ferry operator to turn back after the vessel begins taking on water in rough weather shortly after departure.
Dozens of mourners gather in Kariba on Thursday for an emotional funeral service before the victims are buried.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over passenger safety, vessel overloading and water transport regulation on Lake Kariba, the world’s largest man-made lake by volume.
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Edino Chubiyo Cornelius