A ferry carrying 116 passengers and crew capsized late Saturday night on the Pomeroon River off the coast of Guyana [1, 2, 3].
The disaster has triggered a massive emergency response in a region where river travel is critical for connectivity between coastal hubs and interior ports.
The MV Barima was traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma when it overturned near Iron Punt [1, 2, 3]. The vessel capsized for unknown reasons, and officials have not yet specified what caused the ship to tilt and sink [1, 2].
Rescue operations are being led by the Guyana Defence Force and the Coast Guard, with assistance from private vessels [1, 2, 3]. Prime Minister Mark Phillips is overseeing the operation to locate survivors in the river waters.
"We are doing everything we can to rescue those on board," Phillips said [2].
Reports on the number of survivors vary significantly as the rescue operation continues. One report indicates 67 people have been rescued [1], while another states 53 people were saved [2]. A separate report listed only eight rescues so far [3].
Emergency teams continue to search the area near Iron Punt for the remaining passengers and crew members [1, 2, 3].
“"We are doing everything we can to rescue those on board,"”
The discrepancy in rescue numbers suggests a chaotic early recovery phase typical of river disasters in remote areas. The involvement of both military and private vessels highlights the reliance on local maritime networks for emergency response in Guyana's interior waterways.
