GEORGETOWN: At least 27 people have died and 83 remain missing after a passenger ferry capsised off the coast of Guyana, prompting an extensive search-and-rescue operation involving local authorities, fishermen and international assistance.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips said on Monday that 69 people had been rescued since the MV Barima overturned on Saturday night while travelling from the capital, Georgetown, to the remote Essequibo region. He added that officials now believe 179 people were on board at the time of the disaster.
“Our priority remains finding survivors,” Phillips told reporters, expressing hope that more passengers could still be located despite the rising death toll, which increased from an earlier official figure of 10.
The ferry, which serves communities in Guyana’s interior, overturned during its overnight journey. Initial confusion over the number of passengers complicated rescue efforts after authorities discovered that the vessel’s passenger manifest, which listed 133 people, was inaccurate.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said officials were working to establish the exact number of passengers and crew aboard the vessel, while confirming that investigations into the incident were continuing.
As hopes of finding more survivors diminish with the passage of time, authorities have significantly expanded the search area from around 400 square kilometres to more than 1,000 square kilometres. Local fishermen have joined coastguard and emergency teams in combing the waters for survivors and victims.
Neighbouring French Guiana has also dispatched assistance, including 12 military divers, two doctors and a mechanic, to support Guyana’s rescue and recovery operation.
In a further development, Prime Minister Phillips revealed that two crew members tested positive for marijuana following the accident. Authorities have launched a formal investigation to determine whether human error, negligence or other factors contributed to the tragedy.
Officials said the ferry departed Georgetown in the afternoon, with a distress call being received approximately eight hours into the voyage.
According to maritime records, the MV Barima was built in 1939 and has long been used to transport passengers and cargo to Guyana’s remote riverine communities, including Port Kaituma, which can only be reached after travelling by sea and inland waterways through dense rainforest.
The disaster has shocked the South American nation, which is already facing heightened regional tensions over the oil-rich Essequibo territory that is claimed by neighbouring Venezuela.
Authorities have pledged to continue rescue operations while investigating the circumstances surrounding one of Guyana’s deadliest maritime accidents in recent years.
