The Tanzanian region of Zanzibar is beginning three days of mourning for the victims of a ferry disaster that killed 200 people. A ferry carrying 800 passengers capsized off the coast of Zanzibar in Tanzania early Saturday morning. More than 190 bodies were recovered on Saturday as the Government ordered an investigation into the incident. There were 600 survivors, one of whom is pictured above as she was carried shoulder-high on the shoreline. The vessel, MV Spice Islander, was heavily overloaded when it left port before getting caught in a strong current. Friends and relatives of the victims have reportedly expressed anger at the fact that the boat was permitted to set sail carrying such a heavy load. The President of Zanzibar Ali Mohamed Shein has called for an emergency meeting to address the disaster.

The ferry disaster has been described as one of the worst incidents of its kind in Zanzibar’s history. Relatives had the grim task of identifying their loved ones. The following videos shows anxious family and friends waiting on the northern beach of Nungwi on the Zanzibari island of Unguja, where most of the bodies and survivors were brought ashore.

Pemba is about 40 kilometres from Zanzibar. Passengers who regularly take ferries between the two islands said the vessels are in a poor state of repair and are often overcrowded and loaded with cargo.

The Captain of the ill fated ship Kinyanyite's last words were "I will stay with the rest and rather die here" he's still missing

On Saturday night, due to the overloaded ship combined with roiling sea conditions, the enormous boat holding cargo and people simply turned over on its side and started sinking, not too far from the northern coast, near Nungwi.

Passengers began calling family and friends from their cell phones with panicked messages. We’re sinking. We think we are going to die. We need help. Please pray for us. No one knew where they were exactly on the sea, but described being five to six hours into the slow over-night journey.