A massive multi-agency search and rescue operation is continuing at full pace after the cargo-passenger vessel MV Barima capsized in waters off the coast of Guyana. As of mid-afternoon local time, rescuers have pulled 67 people alive from the water, according to official updates from Guyana’s Search and Rescue Coordination Centre. Among those rescued are 41 adult men, 11 adult women, and 15 children, consisting of six boys and nine girls.
All survivors have been transferred to local medical facilities for care, including major hospitals in the towns of Charity and Lima. Guyana’s Minister of Health Frank Anthony is leading the national medical response effort, backed by teams of emergency first responders. Psychosocial support services have also been activated for family members of those affected by the incident, with a dedicated support hub set up at Georgetown’s Umana Yana convention center.
Since the first light of the operation’s latest working day, the active search zone has been expanded dramatically, growing from an initial 400 square kilometers to more than 1,070 square kilometers. Both air and maritime search units from Guyana’s Region Two and Region Three have been deployed to the area, and the full operational capacity of the mission has been significantly boosted. Resources for the ongoing effort have been contributed by both the Guyanese government and private sector stakeholders, while local commercial fishermen with intimate knowledge of the area’s coastal and riverine waters have also joined the rescue efforts to support official teams.
Three dedicated command centers are now fully operational to coordinate the mission, based in Mabaruma, Port Kaituma, and Georgetown’s Umana Yana. Family members of both rescued people and those still listed as missing are being kept fully informed and closely integrated into all stages of the response process.
Both the captain and first mate of the MV Barima, who are among the survivors rescued from the capsizing, have returned to the search area to share critical local knowledge and assist ongoing rescue operations. Regional community leaders in Region Two, alongside Guyana’s Civil Defence Commission and the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, are working in tandem to deliver targeted mental health support to survivors and their families.
New details released by officials confirm that the MV Barima was fully equipped with required safety gear at the time of the incident, including 250 life vests, six inflatable lifeboats, and two rigid-hull lifeboats. The vessel, which has a total cargo capacity of 284 tons, was carrying 268 tons of cargo, 116 passengers, and 17 crew members when it capsized. It is legally certified to carry more than 300 passengers, underwent its most recent dry dock inspection and maintenance in 2024, and had new engines installed ahead of the incident. The vessel operated regular service on the route, making roughly three to four trips to Port Kaituma each month.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill confirmed that specialized assets have been added to the search effort to boost intensity, including vessels fitted with underwater scanning equipment and teams of professional divers. The underwater scanners allow search teams to map the seabed and locate potential wreckage or missing people without relying solely on visual or acoustic detection. Divers have been deployed to conduct targeted searches inside the sunken hull of the capsized vessel, with officials saying no possible avenue to locate missing people will be left unexplored.
The Guyanese government is coordinating closely with the regional Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to align the response effort. Prime Minister Mark Phillips is leading the overall government response, supported by multiple cabinet ministers. Both President Irfaan Ali and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo have taken active roles in the operation, ensuring that all required resources, personnel, and funding are immediately available to support the rescue mission.
Officials have reiterated that the search and rescue operation will continue non-stop until all people who were on board the MV Barima are accounted for.