Sixty-seven individuals have been rescued while many others remain unaccounted for following the sinking of a ferry carrying 116 passengers and 17 crew members.
Among those saved are fifteen children after the MV Barima capsized off the shores of Guyana. The vessel was en route from Georgetown when a distress signal was received at 11:03 pm local time on Saturday.
In response to the emergency, government teams and privately-owned boats initiated a search operation, as stated by Public Works Minister Juan Edghill. Efforts continued into Sunday afternoon with hopes of locating all individuals who were on board.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips disclosed that the rescued individuals include 41 men, 11 women, and the boat’s captain. The captain has returned to assist in the expanded rescue mission, which has broadened its search area significantly.
Confirming that the ferry was operating within its designated passenger capacity during the incident, Phillips mentioned that the vessel was licensed to accommodate over 300 passengers.
Upon completion of medical assessments and rescue procedures, the identities of the ferry’s occupants will be made public.