HARARE — Zimbabwean authorities continued recovering bodies from Lake Kariba on Friday, a day after an overcrowded ferry capsized in strong waves, killing more than 40 people, the Zimbabwe Republic Police said.

The vessel went down while carrying passengers far beyond its rated capacity. Divers and local fishermen assisted in the search for survivors and missing passengers along the lake, one of the world's largest man-made reservoirs on the border with Zambia.

Lake Kariba is a major transport and fishing route for communities in northern Zimbabwe, where road access is limited. Overloading and poor enforcement of safety rules have contributed to repeated deadly accidents on the country's waterways in recent years, according to transport officials.

The disaster added to a grim week for maritime safety in the region and beyond, following a separate ferry fire off Bali, Indonesia, that forced passengers to jump overboard. Both incidents renewed calls from safety advocates for stricter enforcement of passenger limits.

Zimbabwe's government said it would investigate the circumstances of the capsizing and pledged support for the families of the victims. Government officials urged operators to adhere to capacity and weather-safety regulations on the lake.