He says of those recovered, three are women and the other four are men.

The police have yet to confirm the development. District police spokesperson Sub Inspector Agnes Zalakoma says details will be divulged later.

According to the chief, these are part of the 23 people who have been missing following the canoe accident on the Shire River.

They were recovered on Wednesday morning in another part of the river.

This brings the number of bodies recovered to eight including that of a child which was recovered the same.