Guyana Ferry Disaster Leaves Scores Feared Dead as 67 Survive and Captain Faces Cannabis Probe
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 20
Guyana Ferry Disaster Leaves Scores Feared Dead as 67 Survive and Captain Faces Cannabis Probe
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 20
Summary
Sixty-seven people were rescued after the MV Barima capsized off Guyana on Saturday night, but no additional survivors have been found since Sunday and scores are feared dead.
Officials say the official manifest listed 116 passengers and 17 crew, yet only 35 of the rescued were on it, raising fears the 133-person registry badly understated how many were aboard.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said the captain and at least one crew member tested positive for cannabis, and the captain plus several crew members have been taken into police custody.
A survivor said a large wave tilted the 40-meter ferry and water rushed in within seconds; a distress call at 23:01 triggered a search involving divers, government teams and private boats.
The Georgetown-to-Port Kaituma ferry, built in 1939, is now at the center of a negligence investigation as families are asked to report missing relatives and authorities warn of possible criminal wrongdoing.