The government of Guyana announced on Tuesday that a total of 41 bodies have been retrieved from a ferry that capsized off the coast during the weekend, which had 179 individuals on board.
Many individuals were presumed dead following the ferry’s sinking late on Saturday. Officials indicated that an incorrect passenger manifest and potential substance abuse by the crew may have played a role in the mishap.
According to the prime minister’s office, at least 77 individuals have been rescued, while 61 people remain unaccounted for.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill shared at a press conference on Sunday that the captain and some crew members are presently in police custody.
“We are still conducting search and rescue operations,” Edghill stated. “To families anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones, we are doing everything possible to locate them.”
The MV Barima overturned off the North Atlantic coast, around seven miles from land, while it was en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, authorities reported.
Initially, officials believed the boat had 133 passengers, but a review of boarding footage revealed that the actual number was 179.
A distress signal was received from the ferry at approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday, leading to the initiation of a search and rescue effort.
Edghill noted that initial rescue efforts faced challenges due to darkness and the absence of vessels equipped with scanners, forcing rescuers to rely on visual and auditory cues.
Companies involved in the oil and gas industry have since provided vessels with scanners, and the government has sent divers to enter the ferry to search for bodies, as stated by Edghill. The search area has also been expanded from 400 square kilometers to 1,040 square kilometers (401 square miles).
Initially, Edghill asserted that there was no evidence of “neglect” by the ferry operator. However, by Sunday evening, he disclosed that the captain and at least one crew member had tested positive for marijuana.
Additionally, several rescued individuals were not documented on the ferry’s manifest, highlighting discrepancies in the passenger list and complicating rescue efforts due to uncertainty about the total number of people who needed to be located.
The ferry had completed maintenance in 2024 and was scheduled for dry docking later this year, according to the minister.
This tragedy has shattered numerous families.
Leon Murray, one of the passengers, recounted to Ignite News that around four hours after departing from Georgetown, an alarm was raised about the ferry sinking.
Following the capsizing, Murray managed to reach the surface and utilized a life jacket to stay afloat. He drifted while calling for assistance and spotted his son alongside three others clinging to a floating box.
Murray shared that he and his son were among the survivors, but his wife, daughter, and four grandchildren are still missing. “Six of them are gone.”
Prime Minister Mark Phillips stated that the ferry had reported a cargo weight of 268 tons against a capacity of 284 tons. He added that it was authorized to carry over 300 passengers and was equipped with 250 life jackets, six inflatable life rafts, and two rigid life rafts.
However, during a press conference on Sunday evening, Phillips announced that an investigation had commenced into potential misconduct involving members of the police, defense forces, and maritime administration.
“Let me be unequivocal: if negligence, misconduct, or criminal activities are found, those accountable will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Additional reporting by Michael Rios.
