At Least 27 Dead, 83 Still Missing After Guyana Ferry Capsizing

• Sixty-nine people aboard the MV Barima have been rescued since the vessel flipped over on Saturday night

At least 27 people were killed and 83 others remain missing after the MV Barima ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana, Prime Minister Mark Phillips announced on Monday. Sixty-nine passengers were rescued following the Saturday night accident, while Phillips said he is confident that 179 people were aboard the vessel, correcting earlier manifests that listed only 133. Search efforts have been expanded to cover 1,070 square kilometres, with local fishermen, French Guianan divers, doctors and a mechanic assisting. Investigators noted that two crew members tested positive for marijuana after the incident. The ferry, built in 1939, was en route from Georgetown to the inland Essequibo region when it overturned. Guyana continues to dispute the oil‑rich Essequibo territory with neighbouring Venezuela.

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