HARARE, Zimbabwe — Tragedy struck in eastern Zimbabwe as five children lost their lives following a dam collapse. Rescuers are currently searching for two more youngsters reported missing, according to Zimbabwe’s disaster management agency.
The incident occurred on Sunday in the rural district of Chipinge after continuous heavy rainfall caused an influx of water, breaching the dam’s walls at a local farm. Initially, reports suggested a four-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man perished. The girl’s mother, who was doing laundry alongside her daughter at the time, managed to survive.
As some children in the vicinity remained unaccounted for, authorities commenced a frantic search and rescue operation. This effort led to the recovery of four more children’s bodies throughout the week.
The nation’s Civil Protection Unit is leading an ongoing search for two additional missing children, aged eight and four. The disaster agency reported that torrents of water swept through villages downstream, surprising children who were nearby either fishing or doing laundry by the river. The waters also led to severe agricultural equipment damage and livestock fatalities.
In response to the crisis, members of the Civil Protection Unit, local police, and community volunteers are combing the area extensively in hopes of locating the missing children.
Zimbabwe, recently grappling with the worst drought experienced in four decades, has witnessed relentless rainfall across various regions in recent weeks, contributing to the current flooding situation.
