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

Georgetown – 19.07.2026: A serious ferry accident occurred overnight off the coast of Guyana. 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 occupants were still missing.

The ferry was traveling from the capital, Georgetown, to Port Kaituma, a remote settlement in northwestern Guyana. Shortly after an emergency call, which according to Labor Minister Juan Edghill was received at 23:01, a large-scale search began. State units and private boats were dispatched to the sea area. Rescue personnel are initially focusing on quickly finding survivors and providing medical care.

Vice President Mark Phillips, who is coordinating the government’s operation, said further rescues were expected with daylight. That hope is based on the number of people already recovered, but it is not yet an all-clear. There was initially no confirmed official information about possible fatalities. Authorities also provided no verified information on Sunday about the cause of the capsizing.

According to Juan Edghill, the MV Barima was equipped with 250 life jackets, two rigid life rafts and six inflatable life rafts. 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 of crucial importance to search teams, but does not replace a confirmed accounting of all people on board.

For relatives, an anxious wait began while the search continued on the water. The route along Guyana’s northern coast connects Georgetown with regions that are particularly dependent on maritime links. 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 everyday 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, loading, and the sequence of events after the emergency call are expected to be investigated. Until then, the figure of 53 people rescued is a confirmed interim count, not a final tally.

The Guyanese government has so far published neither a list of those rescued nor information about their health condition. The names of possible missing persons have also not been disclosed. The coming hours will be crucial in determining whether search boats find more people and whether life rafts or other floating objects can be located in the search area. Authorities asked the public to refrain from sharing unconfirmed reports.