Rescuers in Guyana are engaged in an urgent search for dozens of individuals still missing at sea after a ferry carrying 116 passengers and crew capsized off the country’s coast. The vessel, identified as the MV Barima, issued a distress call late Saturday night while navigating from the capital, Georgetown, to Port Kaituma.

This incident highlights the critical safety concerns for maritime travel in the region, where ferries often serve as essential lifelines for communities. The capsizing occurred near Iron Punt, a location approximately 100 miles (160 km) north of Georgetown, underscoring the challenges of reaching remote coastal and riverine areas.

Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed on Sunday that 53 people had been successfully rescued. He expressed optimism that more survivors would be found as the search operation intensified during daylight hours. The ongoing rescue efforts are a collaborative operation involving the Guyana Coast Guard and numerous private vessels.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill stated that the ferry was equipped with safety provisions including approximately 250 life jackets and eight lifeboats, though the circumstances leading to the capsize remain unclear. A medical team has been dispatched to the search area to provide immediate care to those rescued. Edghill shared a video update on Facebook, emphasizing the active nature of the search and expressing hopes for everyone's safety.

The capacity of the MV Barima is reportedly around 150 passengers, indicating it was not significantly overloaded at the time of the incident. However, the exact cause of the capsizing has not yet been determined. Investigations into the incident are expected to follow once the immediate rescue phase concludes.

Maritime safety has been a recurring concern in the region. In separate incidents, several people were rescued after a boat sank in Indonesia, with many still missing, and over 500 were feared dead after boats capsized off Myanmar, carrying predominantly Rohingya passengers.

Officials are working to provide support to the rescued individuals and their families. The large number of people still unaccounted for has heightened anxieties and spurred a significant mobilization of resources for the search and rescue mission.

Further updates are anticipated as the search continues, with authorities focused on locating the remaining passengers and crew and understanding the sequence of events that led to this maritime disaster.