Kariba ferry disaster death toll rises to 72 – SABC News – Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa’s news leader.

The death toll from the Lake Kariba ferry disaster in Zimbabwe has risen to 72.

Twenty-two more bodies were recovered on Saturday, after the ferry sank in Lake Kariba.

Authorities say search and recovery operations will resume Sunday morning.

The exact number of people who were on board remains uncertain, with some reports putting the figure at 153 for the vessel which had a capacity of 90.

Zimbabwe has declared a State of Disaster after the Lake Kariba ferry disaster, allowing government to mobilise more resources for the search, recovery and humanitarian response.
📸: State Media, Zimbabwe pic.twitter.com/lB7HcPqooj
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Two of the bodies were discovered by fishermen in the early hours of Saturday, while the remaining bodies were recovered by search and recovery teams floating on the lake.

Authorities say no bodies have so far been found beneath the wreckage of the ferry, which was towed several days ago to a nearby island.

Search and recovery teams are expected to resume operations tomorrow as authorities continue efforts to locate passengers who remain unaccounted for.

The exact number of people who were on board remains uncertain, with estimates suggesting that as many as 153 people may have been aboard the vessel, which had a capacity of 90.