Ferry carrying 116 people capsizes off Guyana: Search for missing continues

Georgetown – 19 July 2026: A serious ferry accident occurred off the coast of Guyana during the night. According to authorities, the MV Barima capsized near the mouth of the Pomeroon River in the north of the South American country. There were reportedly 116 passengers and crew members on board. At least 53 people were initially rescued. As of Sunday midday local time, it remained unclear how many people were still missing.

The ferry was travelling from the capital, Georgetown, to Port Kaituma, a remote settlement in northwestern Guyana. Shortly after an emergency call was received at 11:01 p.m., according to Labour Minister Juan Edghill, a large-scale search began. Government units and private boats were dispatched to the sea area. Rescue personnel are initially focusing on finding survivors quickly and providing medical care.

Vice President Mark Phillips, who is coordinating the government’s response, said further rescues were expected with daylight. That hope is based on the number of people already recovered, but it does not yet mean the danger has passed. There was initially no confirmed official information on possible fatalities. Authorities also gave no confirmed information on Sunday about the cause of the capsizing.

According to Juan Edghill, the MV Barima was equipped with 250 life jackets, two rigid liferafts and six inflatable liferafts. Whether, and to what extent, these safety devices could be used during the accident is part of the ongoing investigation. The high number of life jackets could be crucial for search teams, but it does not replace a confirmed accounting of everyone on board.

For relatives, this meant an anxious wait as the search continued on the water. The route along Guyana’s northern coast connects Georgetown with regions that are particularly dependent on maritime transport. That is precisely why an accident like this affects not only those directly involved, but also many families and communities for whom ferries are an indispensable part of daily life.

The focus is now on rescuing passengers and crew members who have not yet been accounted for. At the same time, the responsible maritime authorities are likely to examine how the capsizing occurred: weather and sea conditions, the vessel’s technical condition, its load, and the sequence of events following the emergency call will likely be investigated. Until then, the figure of 53 rescued people is a confirmed interim total, not a final count.

The Guyanese government has not yet published either a list of those rescued or information on their condition. The names of any people who may be missing have also not been released. In the coming hours, it will be crucial whether search boats locate more people and whether liferafts or other floating objects can be found in the search area. Authorities urged restraint regarding unconfirmed reports.