Four people have died after their bodies were found floating in the Shire River on Sunday.

According to Chileka Police spokesperson Jonathan Phillipo, the victims drowned last Wednesday when a canoe they were using to harvest reeds capsized in the river.

The tragic incident occurred in Kamwiri Village under Traditional Authority Lundu in the Chileka area, where the Shire River passes through.

Police reports indicate that the incident was reported by 22-year-old Yotamu Mpoto, the sole survivor of the accident.

Search efforts continued until Sunday, when the bodies of the four victims were recovered.

The deceased have been identified as Austin Misheck, 35, Lucius Dyson, 27, and Samalani Kinord, 22, all from Blantyre District, while the fourth victim, James Kapesi, 20, was from Mneno District.