The death toll from a ferry accident on Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba has risen to 68 after 22 more bodies were recovered, police announced Saturday. The vessel capsized on Tuesday, and preliminary investigations suggest it was overloaded and caught in heavy winds.

This disaster is believed to be the country's deadliest of its kind. The majority of passengers are thought to be villagers and fish traders from the surrounding lake communities. The ferry was officially permitted to carry 90 people but was reportedly carrying 114 adults, five crew members, and an unknown number of children.

Authorities confirmed that 18 children were among the fatalities. Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Muchechesi, commander of the search operation's boat regiment, stated that "So far today we have managed to take 22 bodies. We are confident that we will manage to retrieve all the bodies." The civil protection unit had previously reported that 77 people were rescued on Wednesday.

Hundreds of people gathered at the Kariba district hospital to identify the bodies of their relatives. A public memorial service was held in the lakeside town of Kariba on Thursday, located approximately 280km northwest of the capital, Harare, before the burials commenced.

Survivors recounted their pleas to the ferry's driver to return as the boat began taking on water shortly after departing. One survivor, Chance Siyamavhu, 45, shared that a wave pushed the sinking vessel, allowing some passengers to climb on top.

Officials are investigating the incident, with overloading identified as a primary contributing factor. The combination of a high passenger count exceeding the vessel's capacity and adverse weather conditions led to the tragic capsizing.

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about maritime safety and the enforcement of regulations on passenger vessels in the region. The overloaded nature of the ferry, despite its authorized capacity, points to potential systemic issues.

Further investigations are expected to determine the exact sequence of events and identify any individuals or parties responsible for the overcrowding and the subsequent loss of life. The recovery operations continue as authorities work to account for all missing passengers.