A ferry carrying 116 passengers sank off the coast of Guyana on Sunday, July 19th, 2026, with 53 people rescued so far, local authorities reported. The vessel, MV Barima, capsized near Iron Punt while traveling between Georgetown and Port Kaituma.

A distress call was received at 23:01 local time (03:01 BST), which triggered an urgent search operation involving both state and private boats, according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill in a statement posted on social media. The current status of the rescue operation remains unclear, and it is not known if authorities expect to rescue the remaining passengers.

The MV Barima, built in 1939 and measuring 40 meters (131 feet) long, was equipped with 250 life jackets, two rigid life crafts, and six inflatable life crafts, Edghill said. Prime Minister Mark Phillips is reported to be leading the government response to the incident.

Sources