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🇫🇷 France /Disasters & Emergencies

Guyana Ferry Sinking: Death Toll Rises to 53, Search Continues

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • The death toll from a ferry sinking off the coast of Georgetown, Guyana, has risen to 53.
  • Authorities are still searching for missing persons, with the number of people on board initially estimated at 179.
  • French military divers have joined the search efforts in an expanded area.

The death toll from a ferry sinking off the coast of Georgetown, Guyana, has climbed to 53, with authorities continuing their search for potential survivors and the missing. The provisional figure was announced Tuesday by the Guyanese government, which stated that 76 people have been rescued so far.

Fifty-three bodies have been found by 18:00 local time, and we have carried out checks and the figure we will base ourselves on is 76 rescued people.

— Mark PhillipsGuyanese Prime Minister Mark Phillips announced the revised death toll and number of rescued individuals during a press conference.

Initial estimates suggested 179 people were aboard the "MV Barima" when it departed Georgetown on Sunday night. The ferry was traveling upriver to Port Kaituma when it capsized. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill attributed the incident to a large wave, while an 18-year-old survivor described the moment the boat overturned as occurring while passengers were asleep.

It's a big wave that overturned the Barima.

— Juan EdghillThe Minister of Public Works explained the cause of the ferry capsizing.

Search operations are ongoing, with 16 vessels deployed and the search zone expanded to 2,100 square kilometers. Fifteen French military divers from French Guiana are assisting in the recovery efforts. The discrepancy between the passenger list of 133 names and the estimated 179 people on board has fueled controversy.

We were all sleeping when the boat capsized.

— Wayne KitsonAn 18-year-old survivor described the moments leading up to the ferry sinking.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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