Death toll from ferry capsize off Guyana coast rises to 41

The number of fatalities resulting from a ferry capsize off the coast of Guyana has climbed to 41, as announced by the government on Tuesday. The MV Barima, a vessel constructed in 1939, overturned on Saturday evening while en route from the capital, Georgetown, to the inland port of Port Kaituma in the Essequibo region.

The vessel issued a distress call approximately eight hours after its departure. Rescue teams have been searching for the missing since Sunday morning. So far, 77 individuals have been rescued, but dozens remain unaccounted for. By Tuesday morning, authorities reported that the bodies of 14 additional victims had been recovered from the water.

The exact number of passengers on board remains unclear. While the initial passenger list provided by Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill contained 133 names, Prime Minister Mark Phillips stated on Tuesday that he is certain 179 people were on the vessel at the time of the accident. The investigation into the crew's actions is also progressing, with two members testing positive for marijuana following the incident.

The MV Barima is owned by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. It is believed to be part of a fleet of four ferries providing essential transport to the Essequibo region, an area subject to a long-standing territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela. These ferries play a crucial role in transporting people and goods, given Guyana's geography of numerous rivers and extensive rainforests.