By Naledi Nyoni
KARIBA — Eight more bodies have been recovered from Lake Kariba, taking the death toll from the Kariba Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) boat accident to 92, police said on Monday.
National police spokesperson Paul Nyathi said the latest recoveries were confirmed by 3pm on Monday as search and recovery operations continued.
Police have been conducting the operation since August 11, when Commissioner-General of Police Stephen Mutamba deployed resources to assist in the search for survivors and missing passengers.
Nyathi said the operation involves two large boats, two small boats and more than 40 police Sub-Aqua members, alongside other resources deployed to Lake Kariba.
The teams are responsible for searching the lake, recovering bodies and coordinating rescue efforts, police said.
“The death toll is now 92 after eight bodies were recovered from Lake Kariba,” Nyathi said.
Police have also been assisting the lake captain with mobility while working with other government agencies and stakeholders involved in the response.
Nyathi said the coordination was aimed at ensuring recovered bodies are identified “swiftly and professionally.”
Relatives of those involved in the accident have been urged to seek information from the Command Centre in Kariba or the local police station.
“The police urge relatives to approach the Command Centre in Kariba and the local police station for any relevant and necessary information on the RIDA Lake Kariba accident,” Nyathi said.
Search and recovery operations were continuing on Monday, with police maintaining a substantial deployment on the lake.
