Guyana Ferry Disaster: Death Toll Rises to 27 as Search Expands Amid Investigation
At least 27 people have died and 83 remain missing following the capsizing of the MV Barima, an aging vessel built in 1939, as authorities widen the search area and deploy international assistance.
At least 27 people have died and 83 remain missing after the MV Barima ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana on Saturday night, Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed on Monday. The death toll has been raised from an initial figure of 10, with 69 passengers rescued from the vessel as it overturned while travelling from the capital, Georgetown, to the inland Essequibo region.
Phillips stated that authorities are now confident 179 people were aboard the ferry, a significant departure from the original passenger manifest which listed 133 individuals. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill confirmed the discrepancy, noting the initial manifest was inaccurate. The exact number of people on board remains unexplained, and the final death toll is expected to rise as 83 people are still unaccounted for.
In response to the disaster, authorities have expanded the search area from 400 to 1,070 square kilometres. Local fishermen have joined the recovery efforts, and the French army has deployed 12 divers, two doctors, and a mechanic from nearby French Guiana to assist the search-and-rescue operation. The distress call was received approximately eight hours after the ferry began its journey in the mid-afternoon.
An investigation is underway after two crew members tested positive for marijuana. Phillips told reporters that while the cause of the capsizing has not been officially determined, the positive tests are part of the ongoing inquiry. The MV Barima is an aging vessel built in 1939, and boats travelling to Port Kaituma typically travel by sea before entering a river to reach the port, which is located in the depths of a dense rainforest.
Guyana, a small English-speaking country at the northeast corner of South America, is currently locked in a territorial dispute with neighbouring Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region. The tragedy has drawn international attention as the nation mourns the loss of life and continues its search for the missing.
