Sixty-seven individuals have been rescued while numerous others remain unaccounted for following the sinking of a ferry carrying 116 passengers and 17 crew members.
Among the survivors retrieved after the MV Barima overturned off the Guyana coast, fifteen are children, as reported by local authorities. The vessel was en route from the capital, Georgetown, when a distress signal was received at 11:03 pm local time on Saturday.
A search mission was promptly initiated, involving both government teams and privately owned vessels, stated Public Works Minister Juan Edghill. The search efforts continued into Sunday afternoon, with hopes of locating all individuals who were aboard the ferry.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips disclosed that the rescued individuals comprised 41 men and 11 women, including the ship’s captain. The captain has returned to the site to support the intensified rescue operation, which expanded its search area significantly on Sunday.
Phillips confirmed that the ferry was operating within its approved passenger capacity at the time of the incident, as it was licensed to accommodate over 300 passengers. Following the completion of medical assessments and rescue procedures, the identities of the passengers will be made public.
