At least 53 people have died and around 50 remain missing after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana over the weekend, with officials warning the final death toll could reach approximately 100. The MV Barima, an 87-year-old vessel, departed Georgetown — the capital of Guyana, a small South American nation of fewer than one million people — on Saturday evening bound for Port Kaituma, a remote village in the Essequibo region that is accessible only by river. Divers continue to search the wreck while 76 survivors have been rescued, out of roughly 179 people now believed to have been aboard.

Families have gathered in the northern town of Charity, waiting for news of missing loved ones. "I know my baby is in that boat," said Samantha Ramin, who lost two of her three children in the disaster. The body of her young daughter has been recovered, but her infant son remains missing. Survivors have alleged the ferry was dangerously overloaded with passengers and heavy cargo — including engines, vehicles, and fuel containers — well beyond the 133 people listed on the official manifest. They also allege the vessel experienced engine trouble shortly after departure, that the crew attempted repairs at sea rather than turning back, and that passengers' concerns about water entering the hull were dismissed as routine. Government officials, however, maintain the ferry was within its passenger and cargo capacity limits, and say conflicting accounts make it too early to draw firm conclusions.

The rescued captain and at least one other crew member have been detained by police. Both reportedly tested positive for cannabis. Guyana's Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill — who described the incident as the worst maritime disaster in the country in decades — stated there is "zero tolerance" for crew members who drink or use drugs on duty. Divers from neighbouring French Guiana are assisting in the search alongside 16 coast guard vessels and other organisations. President Irfaan Ali visited a town near the scene and met with the families of victims.

Questions have also been raised about why such an aged vessel remained in service. Officials explained that a US$12.7 million replacement ferry, purchased from India, is awaiting the completion of a dedicated pier at Port Kaituma. The MV Barima, built in 1939, last underwent major repairs in 2024, with further maintenance scheduled for October. Prime Minister Mark Phillips pledged on Tuesday that the government has nothing to hide and that anyone found responsible — including for negligence or criminal wrongdoing — will face legal consequences. A full investigation has been ordered into how the vessel was loaded, the conduct of crew and supervisory staff, and the broader circumstances behind Guyana's deadliest maritime tragedy in decades.