DISASTROUS

Captain of Doomed Tanzanian Ferry Arrested as Death Toll Rises

At least 209 people have now been confirmed dead.

The captain of a Tanzanian ferry that capsized on Lake Victoria earlier this week has been arrested, as authorities say the death toll in the disaster has climbed to 209. In an address to the nation on Friday, Tanzanian President John Magufuli announced the captain’s arrest and said all others operating the ferry would also be taken into custody. Rescue crews are still searching for the hundreds of people believed to have been on board the boat when it sank. On Saturday, an engineer was found alive among the wreckage after surviving two days locked inside the ferry’s engine room. An investigation is underway into the cause of the accident, but the ferry is believed to have been severely overloaded when it capsized.