Georgetown, Guyana. A ferry carrying 116 passengers sank off Guyana’s North Atlantic coast late Saturday, with 67 people, including 15 children, rescued, authorities said.
The MV Barima, which had 17 crew members aboard, capsized while travelling to the village of Port Kaituma.
Distress call and rescue operation
An air traffic control tower received a distress call from the ferry at 11:01 p.m. on Saturday, according to local media, prompting a search and rescue operation.
It was not immediately clear where the vessel had departed from.
Authorities’ response
Prime Minister Mark Phillips said at a news conference on Sunday morning that the operation would continue until all efforts had been exhausted.
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar said emergency family assistance centres had been established to provide information and support to relatives.
