At least 27 dead, 83 missing after passenger ferry capsizes off Guyana coast

Guyanese authorities have recovered 27 bodies from the MV Barima ferry, which capsized over the weekend with 179 people on board. Rescue efforts are ongoing for the 83 passengers still missing after the vessel overturned while traveling from the capital, Georgetown, to the northwest village of Port Kaituma.

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27 bodies had been recovered from a ferry that capsized off the coast over the weekend with 179 people on board.

Officials reported that 69 people have been rescued so far. The ferry overturned late Saturday. Early suggestions for the cause of the disaster included an inaccurate passenger manifest and suspected drug use by the crew. The vessel was later located on the seabed during search operations conducted by a private company in collaboration with Exxon Mobil and local fishermen.

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The vessel's captain and at least one other crew member are currently in police custody after testing positive for marijuana, officials said.

In connection with the incident, the vessel's captain and at least one other crew member have been detained by police after testing positive for marijuana. Prime Minister Mark Phillips has initiated an investigation into potential institutional failures, vowing that anyone found negligent or guilty of misconduct will face legal consequences. Search teams have expanded their search area significantly, utilizing resources from the private energy sector and local divers.

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Prime Minister Mark Phillips has launched an investigation into potential institutional failures, promising that anyone found guilty of negligence or misconduct will face legal action.