At least 41 dead after ferry disaster off Guyana

Charity – 21 July 2026: At least 41 bodies have been recovered after the ferry MV Barima capsized off Guyana’s northern coast. Transport Minister Juan Edghill announced this on Tuesday. According to him, 77 people were also rescued. Divers from Guyana and neighboring French Guiana are continuing the search at the wreck. The dead are being identified with the help of relatives at Suddie Hospital.

The state passenger and cargo ferry capsized overnight into Sunday while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. The disaster occurred near the mouth of the Pomeroon River on the Essequibo coast. According to information available so far, the vessel encountered heavy seas. However, the exact cause of the capsizing has not been established and is the subject of a criminal and administrative investigation.

The question of how many people were actually on board remains particularly difficult. The official manifest listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members. Government representatives now believe, however, that as many as 179 people may have been travelling on the vessel. According to the authorities, the discrepancy is partly due to the fact that numerous survivors were not listed on the passenger manifest.

Minister Edghill temporarily suspended the employees responsible for loading, clearance and administration of the MV Barima from duty. The measure is intended to prevent the investigation from being compromised. Investigators are examining the accuracy of the passenger manifest, the cargo, compliance with safety regulations, and the conduct of the captain and crew before departure.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips had previously said that the death toll could continue to rise. According to the government, children were among the recovered dead. Search teams from the armed forces, coast guard, private boats and the local fishing industry are taking part in the operation. The operation is focused on the waters off the Pomeroon coast and on the ferry wreck.

The MV Barima serves an important route to remote communities in northwestern Guyana that are difficult to reach by land. For many residents, ships are therefore a vital means of transport for travel and goods. According to the government, the ferry was overhauled in 2024; further major work had been scheduled for October 2026.

The government of Guyana has pledged support to those affected and their families. Establishing the number of all people on board reliably is crucial to the investigation. Only then can it be determined more precisely how many people are still missing. Authorities are treating the incident as one of the country’s worst maritime disasters in decades.