At least 41 dead in Guyana capsized ferry disaster

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Handout picture released by NCN Guyana showing Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali (3-L) near relatives of missing people at the waterfront in Charity, Guyana, on July 20, 2026, after the capsizing of a ferry. At least 27 people died after a ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said on July 20, 2026, as the small South American nation mourned the tragedy. Sixty-nine people aboard the MV Barima have been rescued since the vessel flipped over on July 18 night, Phillips told reporters, adding that 83 more remained missing. (Photo by Handout / NCN Guyana / AFP)

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At least 41 people died after a ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana over the weekend, the government said Tuesday.

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The MV Barima was traveling from the capital Georgetown to Port Kaituma in Guyana’s inland Essequibo region when it flipped over on Saturday night.

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A desperate search for survivors has been underway since early Sunday, with 77 people rescued so far and dozens more missing, according to authorities.

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A government report released Tuesday revised the death toll from 27 to 41.

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“A total of 41 bodies have now been recovered,” it stated.

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“The first recovery for the day was made at 10:15 am (1415GMT), and 14 bodies have been retrieved as of 1 pm” Tuesday, it added.

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There had earlier been confusion over how many were involved in the tragedy due to an inaccurate passenger manifest which listed 133 people aboard, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said.

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But on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said he was confident that 179 people had been on board when the accident occurred.

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Two crew members aboard the aging ferry tested positive for marijuana after the incident, he told reporters Sunday, adding that an investigation was underway.

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The ship began its journey in mid-afternoon and a distress call was received about eight hours later.

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The ferry was built in 1939, according to the shipping website VesselFinder.

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Boats typically travel by sea before reaching a river to arrive at Port Kaituma, which is located in the depths of a dense rainforest.

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Guyana, a small English-speaking country at the northeast corner of South America, is locked in a territorial dispute with neighboring Venezuela over the oil-rich Essequibo region.

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