BLANTYRE, Malawi — An overloaded boat carrying about 60 illegal immigrants from Ethiopia capsized in Lake Malawi, and all aboard are feared drowned, police said Thursday.

Police spokeswoman Dave Chingwalu said 47 bodies have been recovered and that three suspected Malawian human traffickers had been arrested.

The accident happened in the northern Karonga district on Monday night.

Villagers started seeing bodies Tuesday morning.

‘‘They pulled out two bodies, then three, then five,’’ Chingwalu said. ‘‘They decided to alert the police on Wednesday and we have so far pulled out 47 people from the lake.’’

 The boat capsized “because it was overloaded,’’ he said.

‘‘There were men, women and children and goods as well. We believe more bodies are still in the waters.’’

Immigrants from troubled countries farther north often cross the borders between Malawi and Tanzania, and between Malawi and Mozambique, trying to reach South Africa, home to Africa’s strongest economy.