RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian government on Friday sent condolences to the Tanzanian government over a boat accident on Thursday, which killed at least 131 people.

"The Brazilian government took note with regret of the boat accident," the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The government "expresses its condolences to the families of the victims, best wishes for the recovery of those injured, as well as their solidarity with the people and the government of Tanzania, " it said.

The accident occurred when a ferry boat capsized in Lake Victoria, northern Tanzania. According to media reports, the boat was overcrowded, with several times more passengers than its maximum capacity.