Over 190 people have been confirmed dead after a passenger and cargo ship capsized and sank early Saturday morning when sailing between the two major islands of Zanzibar, the semi-autonomous republic of Tanzania.

A survior was taken to hospital by rescuers after a passenger and cargo ship with over 600 aboard capsized overnight between two islands in Zanzibar, Tanzania, on September 10, 2011. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Officials in charge of rescue operation said over 190 bodies have been recovered as local media reported that more than 620 people have been rescued so far with some treated and discharged and others admitted at Zanzibar general hospital.

The ill-fated ship Spice Islander is designed with seating capacity of 610, but witnesses said there could be much more onboard when the overloaded ship was heading for Pemba, the sister island of Zanzibar.

Television Zanzibar has been broadcasting live the faces of the victims for the family to identify and take them back for burial.

There are still hundreds of people gathering in a ground in Stone Town, capital of Zanzibar, looking for their family onboard the wrecked ship, where a line of tents were temporarily set up to place the remains of victims.

Dozens of police officers and soldiers are maintaining order on site as the anxious families waiting in a long queue enter the tents to look for their beloved ones.

"This (kind of tragedy) has never happened here," said Omar, a taxi driver at the airport. "People have been crying for the whole day."

The ship was travelling Friday night from Zanzibar to Pemba, 40 km away, when it capsized at Nungwi area, making it the worst of its kind in the history of Zanzibar.

Reports said the cause of the accident is due to overload of passengers and cargo, but other reports said technical fault cannot be ruled out at this stage.

Zanzibar government has termed the accident, the worst of its kind, as disaster for the whole nation.

Maritime accidents are not uncommon in this area due to billowy waves and overloading. Commuters between the two islands complained that the ferries are always in poor condition and overloaded.

A previous report said the government in Zanzibar had promised to invest in bigger vessels to ferry passengers between the two island.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet