Guyana ferry toll feared near 100 as families press for answers
Officials say 76 people survived and 53 bodies have been recovered after the MV Barima capsized, with divers still searching for the missing.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
3 min read
The feared death toll from Guyana’s weekend ferry capsize has risen to about 100, according to officials cited by Al Jazeera and The Associated Press. The disaster has put pressure on the government to explain how the MV Barima sank and why so many people may have been aboard.
Officials said on Tuesday that 76 people survived from the roughly 179 believed to have been on the vessel. Search teams have recovered 53 bodies, while divers continued looking for people still missing, according to Al Jazeera and AP.
Relatives have been gathering in Charity, a town in northern Guyana, as they wait for word on missing family members. Al Jazeera and AP reported that Samantha Ramin lost two of her three children in the disaster; her young daughter’s body has been recovered, while her baby son remains missing.
Questions over loading and response
The MV Barima, an 87-year-old ferry, departed Georgetown for Port Kaituma on Saturday before it began taking in water and overturned off the Essequibo coast, according to officials cited by Al Jazeera and AP. Its official manifest listed 133 people, but authorities now estimate that as many as 179 were on board.
Survivors have accused the ferry of carrying too many passengers and heavy cargo, including engines, vehicles, fuel containers and goods for sale, according to Al Jazeera and AP. One survivor told reporters the vessel was more crowded than on his previous trips and said cargo had been tightly packed below deck.
Some survivors also said the ferry had engine problems soon after leaving port, according to Al Jazeera and AP. They alleged crew members tried to fix the problem at sea rather than return, and that passengers’ worries about water entering the ferry were treated as routine.
Anger has also focused on the time it took to reach people in the water. Al Jazeera and AP reported that some survivors said they waited for hours before rescue.
Government promises investigation
Guyana’s government has said the ferry was within its passenger and cargo limits, according to Al Jazeera and AP. Officials have also said the accounts conflict and that investigators must establish how the vessel was loaded and whether supervisors performed their duties properly.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips said on Tuesday that the government has nothing to conceal, according to Al Jazeera and AP. He said anyone found responsible, including through negligence or criminal conduct, would face legal action.
Police have detained the rescued captain and at least one other crew member, according to Al Jazeera and AP. Both reportedly tested positive for marijuana.
Officials said a replacement ferry bought from India for $12.7 million was waiting for a special pier to be finished at Port Kaituma, according to Al Jazeera and AP. They said the MV Barima had major repairs in 2024 and was due for more maintenance in October.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.