Dozens feared dead after passenger ferry carrying over 100 people sinks off coast of Guyana
Tragedy at Sea: Ferry Disaster Leaves Dozens Missing Off Guyana’s Coast
Activelifezero.com – Family members across Guyana are bracing for the worst after a passenger ferry carrying 133 individuals capsized in the early hours of Sunday morning. The MV Barima went down approximately seven miles from the shoreline while making its journey from Georgetown to the coastal village of Port Kaituma. Since Sunday afternoon, when officials confirmed the rescue of 67 people, no additional survivors have been located, leaving dozens feared lost at sea.
Rescue Operations Underway
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill addressed reporters late Sunday evening, confirming that search and rescue efforts remain active. “Search and rescue is still in progress,” Edghill stated. “So to the families that are out there wondering about their loved ones, we are doing everything that is humanly possible to find them.” The minister revealed that the captain and several other crew members have been taken into police custody pending further investigation.
Initial rescue efforts faced significant challenges due to darkness and insufficient equipment. Edghill explained that early responders lacked vessels equipped with scanners capable of locating survivors underwater. Rescuers had to rely primarily on visual observation and auditory signals. However, the situation has improved considerably since then. Oil and gas companies have contributed specialized vessels with scanning technology, while government divers have been deployed to enter the submerged ferry to search for bodies.
Authorities have substantially widened their search parameters, expanding the operational area from 400 square kilometers to 1,040 square kilometers, which equals approximately 401 square miles.
Contributing Factors Under Scrutiny
Multiple factors may have contributed to the disaster. Edghill initially suggested on Sunday afternoon that the ferry operator had not shown negligence. However, by Sunday evening, he revealed that the captain and at least one other crew member had tested positive for marijuana. Additionally, several individuals who were successfully rescued were not recorded on the ferry’s official passenger manifest. This discrepancy has complicated rescue operations, as authorities cannot determine the exact number of people aboard the vessel.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips provided further details during a press conference, noting that the vessel reported carrying 268 tons of cargo against a maximum capacity of 284 tons. The ferry held a license to transport more than 300 passengers and was equipped with 250 life jackets, six inflatable life rafts, and two rigid life rafts. The minister also announced that an investigation has been launched into potential wrongdoing involving members of the police force, defense force, and maritime administration department.
“Let me be absolutely clear: where negligence, misconduct or criminal wrongdoing is established, those responsible will face the full force of the law,” Phillips declared.
Human Toll Mounts
The tragedy has devastated numerous families. Leon Murray, a passenger aboard the ferry, recounted the harrowing experience to local news outlet Ignite News. According to Murray, approximately four hours after departing Georgetown, someone shouted that the vessel was sinking. After the boat overturned, Murray managed to reach the surface and used a life jacket to stay afloat. He drifted while calling for help and eventually located his son along with three other survivors holding onto a floating box.
Murray confirmed that he and his son survived, but his wife, daughter, and four grandchildren remain missing. “Six of them gone,” he said with grief.
The minister also noted that the ferry had undergone maintenance in 2024 and was scheduled for dry docking later this year. Dry docking involves temporarily removing a ship from the water to inspect and repair any structural problems.
As rescue operations continue, the community waits with heavy hearts, hoping that more survivors will be found among the vast search area now being covered by specialized equipment and dedicated personnel.
