–76 rescued as search continues for 50 people still unaccounted for
The death toll in the MV Barima tragedy has climbed to 53, according to the latest government figures, as search, rescue and recovery operations intensified on Tuesday in an effort to locate anyone who may still be alive and recover those who perished.
Providing an update at a press conference on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips said 76 people had been verified as rescued as of 6:00 p.m., while 53 bodies had been recovered. Of those, 26 had been positively identified, leaving 50 people still unaccounted for.
Authorities revealed that the number of people believed to have been aboard the MV Barima had been revised from an initial 133, comprising 116 passengers and 17 crew members, to 179.
The updated figure includes 161 passengers and 18 crew members.
Phillips said the search area has been expanded by an additional 400 square miles, bringing the total area under search to approximately 2,100 square kilometres and extending as far as Wai’ini Point.
“The whole aim is to maximize the likelihood of locating any remaining persons who are alive out there,” he said.
He disclosed that French and local divers searched inside the wreckage of the vessel in the hope of finding survivors who may have been trapped inside air pockets.
However, no one was found alive within the wreck.
According to the Prime Minister, divers located one body inside the sunken vessel but were unable to safely recover it before operations concluded for the day.
He said additional dives would continue with more equipment, while divers from Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil are expected to bolster the operation.
Although the search inside the wreck has now transitioned into a recovery mission, Phillips stressed that the broader operation remains focused on exhausting every possible effort.
He said, “The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center remains fully operational, and search, rescue and recovery efforts will continue until every reasonable effort has been exhausted.
Meanwhile, families have begun receiving the bodies of their loved ones as the identification process continues.
Phillips said the Ministry of Health has started releasing positively identified bodies to relatives, while 11 victims have already been repatriated to their home communities at the request of their families.
He added that the government has been transporting relatives from Port Kaituma, Mabaruma and Georgetown to the Suddie Hospital to assist with identifying deceased family members.
“Arrangements, therefore, are in place for the continuous facilitation of repatriation requests,” Phillips said, noting that regional authorities are working with families to facilitate funeral arrangements and interment in their respective communities.
The Prime Minister also reminded all agencies and volunteers participating in the operation that any bodies recovered must be handed over immediately to the Guyana Police Force at the designated facility in Charity in accordance with established recovery and identification protocols.
He extended the government’s condolences to the bereaved families and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting them throughout the recovery process.
The 87-year-old MV Barima went down off the Essequibo coast on Saturday night, leaving dozens dead and many others still missing.
The ferry was travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma in Region One when the tragedy occurred.
