Georgetown, Guyana – Web Desk: At least 41 people have died and 61 remain missing after a passenger ferry carrying 179 people capsized off the coast of Guyana, according to government officials. Rescue teams continue search operations days after the disaster .
Details of the Incident
The MV Barima ferry was traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma when it capsized approximately seven miles off the coast in the North Atlantic Ocean on Saturday night .
Initial reports indicated 133 passengers were on board, but a review of boarding video revealed the vessel was carrying a total of 179 people . The ferry sent a distress signal around 11 PM, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation. Darkness and a lack of modern search equipment hampered early rescue efforts, though oil and gas companies later provided ships with advanced scanners .
Casualties and Search Efforts
So far, 77 people have been rescued alive. The search area has been expanded from 400 to 1,040 square kilometers . Divers have been deployed to search for bodies and individuals trapped inside the vessel .
Crew Detained and Drug Test
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said the ferry’s captain and other crew members have been detained. Medical examinations showed the captain and at least one crew member tested positive for marijuana . Additionally, several survivors were not listed on the official passenger manifest, complicating efforts to determine the exact number of missing .
Investigation Underway
The ferry was reportedly repaired in 2024 and was scheduled for a full technical inspection this year. An investigation is ongoing .
