Eight killed, 28 injured in Zambia crush

A human crush at a religious function in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, has left at least eight people dead and 28 others injured.

The incident took place on Sunday at a sports complex, where the organizers of a religious event were distributing free food parcels among participants.

The event had been organized by the Church of Christ’s Olympic Youth Development Center (OYDC).

Police have opened an inquiry into the deadly crush. “We have since dispersed the gathering and an inquiry into the matter has been instituted,” a police statement said.

The dead included six females, one male adult, and one male adolescent.

Five of the victims died at the stadium while the other three died at the hospitals where they had been admitted for medical care.

Some 35,000 people were said to have been present at the function organized for mass prayers.

The World Bank says 62 percent of people in Zambia live below the poverty line and 42 percent are considered to be extremely poor.