A ferry carrying 116 passengers and crew sank off the coast of Guyana, leaving many missing and feared dead. Authorities confirmed that 67 people, including 15 children, were rescued alive. The vessel, named MV Barima, departed from the capital Georgetown around 3:15 p.m. local time on Saturday, heading toward Port Kaituma in the oil-rich Essequibo region near the Venezuelan border. The distress signal was received shortly after 11 p.m., prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving the Guyana Defense Force, private aircraft, fishing boats, and volunteers.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill stated that initial investigations found the ferry was operating within its approved capacity and that no mechanical faults or overloading were detected. He said the accident was primarily caused by tidal conditions. The MV Barima was authorized to carry 397 passengers and 284 tons of cargo but had only 268 tons at the time. It was equipped with 250 life jackets, two lifeboats, and six inflatable life rafts.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips announced that the search area had been expanded from 400 to 1,070 square kilometers, with additional aircraft, vessels, and local fishermen joining the search efforts.