A ferry carrying 116 passengers has sunk off the coast of Guyana, with eight people rescued so far. The MV Barima, a 40m long vessel built in 1939, capsized near Iron Punt, on its route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
A distress call was received at 23:01 local time, triggering an urgent search operation involving state and private boats. Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said in a statement that the vessel was fitted with 250 life jackets, two rigid life crafts, and six inflatable life crafts.
The state of the operation is currently unclear, and it is not known whether authorities expect to rescue the remaining passengers. Prime Minister Mark Phillips is said to be leading the government response to the disaster.
The sinking of the MV Barima raises concerns about maritime safety in Guyana and the effectiveness of emergency response procedures. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks and dangers associated with travel by sea.
The Guyanese government has not released a statement on the expected outcome of the search operation or the potential causes of the ferry's sinking. The incident is currently under investigation.