10 dead after ferry carrying over 100 people capsizes off Guyana coast

At least 10 people have died after a ferry carrying more than 100 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of Guyana, authorities said on Monday, as search-and-rescue operations continued to locate those still missing.

The MV Barima overturned on Saturday night while travelling from the capital, Georgetown, to the inland Essequibo region. So far, 67 people have been rescued, while officials continue efforts to account for everyone who was on board.

Death toll rises as search continues

Guyanese authorities raised the death toll from two to 10 after eight more bodies were recovered on Monday.

"By 12:35 pm (1635 GMT), eight bodies had been recovered, bringing the total number of confirmed bodies recovered since the incident to 10," an official government statement said.

The government said all available resources had been deployed to locate the remaining passengers and determine the final toll.

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Authorities have also expanded the search area from 400 square kilometres to more than 1,070 square kilometres, with local fishermen joining the rescue and recovery operation.

Passenger count under scrutiny

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said the ferry's passenger manifest, which listed 133 people on board, did not accurately reflect the actual number of passengers.

Officials have urged families to report missing relatives to help establish how many people remain unaccounted for.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips also revealed that two crew members tested positive for marijuana following the incident. He said an investigation had been launched into the cause of the accident.

Distress call received hours after departure

According to officials, the MV Barima departed Georgetown on Saturday afternoon, with a distress call received around eight hours into the journey.

The ferry, built in 1939 according to shipping website VesselFinder, was operating on a route that requires vessels to travel by sea before entering river channels leading to Port Kaituma, deep inside Guyana's rainforest region.

Ferry disaster hits Guyana amid territorial dispute

The tragedy comes as Guyana remains embroiled in a long-running territorial dispute with neighbouring Venezuela over the resource-rich Essequibo region, an area that has gained strategic importance following major offshore oil discoveries.