Key facts
- Ten bodies have been recovered from a ferry that capsized off Guyana's coast.
- The MV Barima was carrying 133 people when it overturned.
- Sixty-seven survivors, including 15 children, have been rescued.
- The ferry was traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
- The captain and at least one crew member tested positive for marijuana.
- An investigation into potential institutional failures has been launched.
Ten bodies have been recovered from a ferry that capsized off the coast of Guyana over the weekend, with authorities continuing to search for dozens of missing people. The MV Barima was carrying 133 passengers and crew when it overturned late Saturday while traveling from the capital, Georgetown, to Port Kaituma.
Sixty-seven survivors, including 15 children, were rescued on Sunday. Search teams, aided by private vessels and divers, have expanded their search area to 1,040 square kilometers. The ferry's captain and at least one other crew member are in police custody after testing positive for marijuana, a development that has angered officials who suspect negligence may have contributed to the disaster.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips has initiated an investigation into potential institutional failures, vowing legal action against anyone found responsible for misconduct. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill expressed frustration, noting that only 35 of the rescued individuals were on the official passenger manifest, suggesting the vessel may have carried more people than registered. The ferry, built in 1939, was reportedly within its weight capacity and licensed to carry more than 300 passengers.