A ferry carrying 116 passengers has capsized off the coast of Guyana and53 people rescued so far, local authorities report.
The MV Barima capsized near Iron Punt while traveling from Georgetown, the capital, to Port Kaituma on Saturday.
A distress call was received at 23:01 local time (03:01 GMT), prompting a search operation involving state and private vessels, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said in a statement posted on social media.
“There is an active search and rescue operation underway, and we are praying for the safety of everyone,” Edghill said on Sunday, according to AFP.
Emergency teams anticipate discovering additional survivors as the operation proceeds, Guyana Prime Minister Mark Phillips told AFP, adding that those rescued to date comprise both passengers and crew.
Three assistance centres have been established for the families of rescued individuals and for passengers still missing, Phillips said on Facebook.
The names of those aboard will be released after rescue operations and medical examinations are completed, he added.
The MV Barima was constructed in 1939 and measures 40 m (131 ft) in length, according to a VesselFinder listing.
Edghill noted that the vessel was equipped with 250 life jackets, two rigid life‑crafts, and six inflatable life‑crafts.
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