Ferry carrying 133 passengers sinks off Guyana coast; 67 rescued

The MV Barima, a 40‑metre ferry built in 1939, capsized after leaving Georgetown for Port Kaituma, carrying 116 passengers and 17 crew. Sixty‑seven people have been rescued so far, including 41 men, 11 women and the captain, while dozens remain missing.

A distress call was received at 23:01 local time (03:01 GMT) prompting a search operation involving government teams and privately‑owned boats, said Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.

"We're hopeful we'll be able to account for all that were on board," he told reporters as emergency teams continue their search.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips added that the vessel had been within its weight capacity at the time of the incident and that it was licensed to hold more than 300 passengers.

The Barima was fitted with 250 life jackets, two rigid life crafts and six inflatable life crafts. It is 40 m (131 ft) long.

Assistance centres have been set up for relatives of those rescued and passengers still missing. Names of those on board will be released once rescue operations and medical checks are complete, Phillips said on Facebook.

The ferry crashed near Iron Punt, just off the coast of Guyana’s capital.