Guyana ferry capsizes with 116 aboard; 8 rescued so far

A ferry carrying 116 passengers and crew capsized off the coast of Guyana late on July 18, prompting an urgent rescue operation. As of July 19, only eight people had been rescued.

The vessel, identified as the MV Barima, departed at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time on July 18 and was headed for Port Kaituma. Authorities received a distress signal around 11:01 p.m. the same night, initiating a search and rescue mission involving the Guyana Coast Guard and civilian boats.

Public Works Minister Juan Edghill confirmed the incident on Facebook, stating that medical personnel were en route to assist survivors. The cause of the capsizing remains unclear, as does the condition of the passengers still unaccounted for. "We pray that everyone is safe," Edghill said.

Port Kaituma is located within the Essequibo region, a territory rich in oil that Venezuela has long disputed with Guyana. The sovereignty dispute dates back over a century, with Venezuela having ordered the annexation of Essequibo in 2024. Tensions have previously flared, including an incident in September 2025 where a Guyanese vessel carrying election materials was fired upon by Venezuelan forces.

“

We pray that everyone is safe.