The death toll from the capsizing of the MV Barima off Guyana’s Atlantic coast has risen beyond the previously reported figure of 53, with authorities now confirming 65 recovered bodies as rescue teams continue searching for more than 30 people who remain missing.
Passenger numbers revised repeatedly
The passenger and cargo ferry was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma when it capsized late on Saturday near the mouth of the Pomeroon River. A distress call was received shortly after 11pm, triggering a large search and rescue operation.
Authorities initially believed that 133 passengers and crew were aboard, based on the official manifest. A subsequent review of surveillance footage, ticket information and survivor accounts indicated that the vessel may have been carrying approximately 179 people.
The number of confirmed survivors has been revised to 76 after officials removed duplicated names received from different reporting sources. The inaccurate manifest has complicated efforts to establish how many people remain missing and notify their families.
Several rescued passengers were not recorded on the official list. The discrepancy has prompted serious questions about boarding procedures, ticketing controls and oversight of the state-operated ferry service.
Search area expanded
Rescue teams have expanded the search area to approximately 2,100 square kilometres. Guyanese aircraft, coastguard vessels, fishing boats and private ships have joined the operation.
Military divers from French Guiana are assisting local teams at the wreck, which was located on the seabed approximately nine miles offshore. Trinidad and Tobago has also offered specialist search and diving support.
Officials initially expressed hope that air pockets inside the submerged vessel could contain survivors. As more time passes, however, the operation is increasingly focused on recovering bodies and returning them to families.
The difficult coastal conditions, strong currents and large search area have slowed the work. Debris and personal belongings have reportedly been found considerable distances from the site of the capsize.
Questions over vessel and crew
The MV Barima was built in 1939 and was one of the oldest ferries still operating in Guyana. It underwent maintenance in 2024 and was scheduled to be removed from service for further inspection later this year.
Survivors have reported that the vessel experienced mechanical difficulties and later began taking on water. Some described being asleep when a large wave struck and the ferry suddenly overturned. The precise cause has not been established.
The captain and first engineer were detained after authorities said they tested positive for cannabis. A positive drug test does not by itself establish responsibility for the accident, and investigators must determine whether impairment, negligence, overloading, mechanical failure or weather conditions contributed to the disaster.
Cargo records stated that the vessel carried 268 tonnes, below its licensed capacity of 284 tonnes. That information is also being examined following the discovery of serious inaccuracies in the passenger manifest.
Government promises accountability
President Irfaan Ali has promised a comprehensive investigation, while Prime Minister Mark Phillips said anyone found responsible for negligence, misconduct or criminal wrongdoing would face prosecution.
The disaster is among the deadliest maritime accidents in Guyana’s modern history. It has also exposed the country’s dependence on ageing passenger vessels to connect remote coastal and rainforest communities.
As families continue waiting for news, public grief is increasingly accompanied by demands for answers about how so many passengers boarded without being recorded and why an 87-year-old vessel remained responsible for a vital national transport route.
Newshub Editorial in South America – 23 July 2026
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