Ferry carrying 116 passengers sinks off Guyana coast
A ferry with 116 passengers sank off Guyana's coast; eight people have been rescued, and a search operation is ongoing.
A ferry carrying 116 passengers has sunk off the coast of Guyana, local authorities have confirmed. Eight people have been rescued so far.
The MV Barima capsized near Iron Punt while traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. A distress call was received at 23:01 local time, triggering an urgent search operation involving state and private boats, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said in a social media statement.
The status of the rescue effort remains unclear, and it is unknown whether authorities expect to recover the remaining passengers. According to VesselFinder, the MV Barima was built in 1939 and measures 40 meters in length. Edghill noted the vessel carried 250 life jackets, two rigid life rafts, and six inflatable life rafts.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips is leading the government's response to the incident.
