At least 27 confirmed dead and 83 still missing after ferry capsizes and sinks as rescue and recovery mission continues

A search and rescue mission continues after the accident that took place off the coast of Guyana on Saturday, July 18

NEED TO KNOW

• The MV Barima ferry capsized near Guyana’s Pomeroon River while carrying a reported 179 passengers and crew on Saturday, July 18

• Authorities have recovered 27 bodies from the water and rescued 69 people, while 83 remain missing as search efforts continue

• The ferry reportedly capsized near the coastal area of Iron Punt near the Pomeroon River at around 11 p.m. local time

At least 27 people have died, and 83 remain missing after a ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana.

Guyanese Prime Minister Mark Phillips announced on Tuesday, July 21, that 27 bodies have been recovered after the MV Barima capsized and sank on Saturday, July 18, while traveling from the Guyanese capital of Georgetown to Port Kaitumas. A total of 69 people have been rescued and 83 are still missing as of Monday, July 20.

The ferry — which was initially reported to have carried 116 passengers and 17 crew members — capsized near the coastal area of Iron Punt near the Pomeroon River at around 11 p.m. local time on Saturday, AFP, the Associated Press and the BBC reported. 

“At first light, thirteen assets were deployed to augment the rescue operations that had continued throughout the night in search of the MV Barima passengers and crew,” Phillips said in a news release on Facebook. “At approximately 9:26 a..m., debris was sighted at sea by a pilot vessel, and shortly thereafter … a substantial debris field some 2.5 nautical miles off the coast of Devonshire Castle Flats.”

The body of a woman was recovered off the coast at Moruca around an hour after the rescue mission resumed on Monday morning. An additional eight bodies were recovered by 1:49 p.m. local time, per the release.

Phillips confirmed that authorities had also located the sunken MV Barima itself.

“Through the aggressive and coordinated efforts of all responding agencies and stakeholders, the location of the MV Barima was positively confirmed,” he continued. Fisherman Haresh Singh, who assisted in the rescue operations, initially reported the sighting, according to Phillips.

“The vessel was found resting on the seabed close to the point of initial distress communicated by the Air Traffic Control tower, nine miles offshore,” he explained.

Officials initially reported that the ferry was carrying 133 people when it capsized, but CNN now reports the number is believed to be 179. According to the outlet, some rescued individuals were not listed as ferry passengers, which resulted in the inaccurate count.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill reported that the captain and at least one other crew member on the ferry tested positive for marijuana, per CNN. The exact cause of the ferry capsizing is unknown at this time.

The search for the remaining passengers has expanded to 401 square miles, with 15 divers deployed across local dive teams, per CNN. 

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Phillips shared that the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is providing additional search and dive aid.

“The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre will remain operational, and rescue and recovery efforts will continue,” he said, adding, “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the affected families and the Guyanese public.”

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