DAR ES SALAAM - Dozens more bodies were recovered after the sinking of a ferry carrying hundreds of people in Tanzania, taking the death toll up to 86, the privately owned The Citizen newspaper said on its website on Friday.

The paper cited figures from John Mongella, the regional commissioner for Mwanza, where the MV Nyerere capsized on Thursday afternoon.

Thirty-seven others were rescued, Mwanza Regional Commissioner John Mongela told Xinhua over the phone.

"The number of victims might rise as rescue operations are underway," he said.

According to sources, the ferry, with a capacity of 101 passengers and 25 tonnes of cargo, capsized at around 1:00 pm local time.

"The rescue team is still working out to find the missing bodies. Some of the bodies have already been identified and taken by relatives," Mwanza Regional Police Commander Jonathan Shana said.

"We are yet to know the exact number of passengers on board," the regional police chief said.

It is not immediately clear what caused the vessel to capsize, said Shana.

Reuters-Xinhua