Guyana: The death toll from the ferry disaster off the coast of Guyana has climbed to at least 41, after search teams recovered 14 more bodies, authorities confirmed.
The latest fatalities come after 27 deaths were reported a day earlier following the capsizing of the MV Barima. Officials said 77 people have been rescued, while search and recovery operations remain underway for dozens who are still missing.
The ferry was carrying 179 people at the time of the accident, despite the official passenger manifest listing only 133 passengers, raising concerns about overcrowding and safety compliance. Guyana’s Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, described the incident as the country’s worst maritime disaster in decades, saying authorities are using every available resource to locate those still unaccounted for. The government has deployed 16 vessels to the search area, with French and local divers leading underwater recovery efforts.
The MV Barima was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma in Guyana’s inland Essequibo region when it capsized at sea. Authorities are investigating the cause of the tragedy, with early findings pointing to an incomplete passenger list and possible misconduct by crew members.
Police confirmed that the ferry’s captain and at least one other crew member were taken into custody after testing positive for marijuana. Minister Edghill said the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward drug or alcohol use while on duty, describing the positive tests as a serious breach of safety standards.
According to shipping records, the MV Barima was built in 1939. The route to Port Kaituma requires vessels to travel across coastal waters before entering river channels leading into Guyana’s remote rainforest interior. Authorities have pledged a full investigation as rescue teams continue searching for the remaining missing passengers.
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