( CNN ) -- The Tanzanian island of Zanzibar began three official days of mourning Sunday , a day after 200 people died when a ferry jammed with passengers and tons of cargo capsized amid strong waves . In addition to Tanzania , South Africa was sending divers and navy forces to help with recovery efforts , said Mohamed Aboud , the state minister of Zanzibar . British officials have also sent helicopters to help with the search efforts . `` Right now , we are focusing on getting the bodies for the relatives , but you never know , God is God ... we might find people alive , '' he said . Rescuers saved 579 people , including 20 children , Aboud said . `` A lot of children are going back to Zanzibar for school , so there were a lot on the ferry , '' said Ismail Katumba , a resident of Dar es Salaam . `` It was so chaotic . It was so crowded . '' The minister said the ferry carries a maximum capacity of about 600 people and was traveling between the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba . But additional passengers , who were apparently not registered , had also made their way onboard , he said . It capsized in predawn hours local time , sending passengers scrambling for any available objects to avoid getting swallowed by the dark waves , witnesses said . Some jumped atop mattresses floating from the cargo . Fisherman , local hotels and residents joined rescue crews to help in the search , authorities said . Rescue crews took bodies to a nearby tent . `` You could hear people screaming loud and crying as bodies surfaced , mostly children , '' said Katumba , who lost a friend in the accident . `` What you do is you just go over and start looking at the bodies to identify them . '' Most of the rescued were transported to local hospitals for treatment , and some have been discharged . President Ali Mohamed Shein of Zanzibar , who ordered the three days of mourning , also called for flags to fly at half staff . Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete also said the nation would mark three days of mourning starting Sunday . The government has buried dozens of unidentified victims , the minister said , and will maintain records for those searching for loved ones . Pemba and Zanzibar , the two main islands on the Zanzibar archipelago , are popular among tourists for their pristine sandy beaches on the Indian Ocean . Zanzibar is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania . CNN 's Jim Clancy , Nicole Saidi , Samira Said and journalist Richard Mgamba contributed to this report .
NEW : Britain sent helicopters to help with the search efforts , official says . South Africa is also sending divers and security personnel to help . ` ` Right now , we are focusing on getting the bodies for the relatives , '' official says . Bali is a popular tourist destination .