Lake Kariba ferry tragedy: Overcrowding concerns due to uncertain passenger counts

At least 15 people died and 27 remained missing after a passenger ferry capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba on Tuesday. (@zoleka_zw) At least 15 people died and 27 remained missing after a passenger ferry capsized on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba on Tuesday, while 77 people were rescued, authorities said.Questions over possible overcrowding and incomplete passenger records have emerged as authorities work to establish how many people were actually aboard the vessel when it overturned. Ticket records showed 114 adults on board, while five crew members were also listed, putting the recorded total at 119 against the ferry’s stated capacity of 90.Officials, however, said children below the ticketing age may not have been included in the records. This means the actual number of people aboard could have been higher and the current figure of those missing could change as authorities reconcile passenger lists with those rescued and confirmed dead.According to the Associated Press, all 77 rescued passengers reached a small island after the ferry capsized, with boats sent to bring them back. Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster ZBC showed rescue boats operating on the lake, while a helicopter was also deplo...