GUYANA — The MV Barima sank off the coast of Guyana on Saturday night while traveling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. Reports on the number of people rescued from the vessel vary, with some authorities stating 67 survivors and others citing 53.

The ferry departed Georgetown at approximately 3:15 pm on Saturday carrying 116 passengers and crew members. A distress call was received shortly after 11:00 pm local time, with one record indicating the signal arrived at 11:01 pm.

Search and rescue efforts expanded significantly as the operation progressed. Mark Phillips, Prime Minister of Guyana, stated the search and rescue coordination center expanded the search area from 400 sq km to 1,070 sq km.

The emergency response involved the Guyana defense Force Coast Guard, the Air Corps, private aircraft, fishing vessels, and civilian volunteers. Juan Edghill, Minister of Public Works, said a medical team was being dispatched to the search area to treat people as soon as they are rescued.

"There is an active search and rescue operation that is taking place, and we pray for the safety of all," he said. Preliminary investigations indicate the vessel was operating within its legal limits, according to the minister.

"There was no engine problem or any mechanical problem. It had nothing to do with overload. It had to do with the tide," he said. He stated the MV Barima was certified to carry 397 passengers and 284 tonnes of cargo.

The vessel's manifest showed it was transporting 268 tonnes of cargo at the time of the incident. He provided varying accounts of the safety equipment on board, stating at different times that the ship carried 250 lifejackets, two lifeboats, and six inflatable rafts, or two rigid life crafts and six inflatable life crafts.

In another account, he stated the vessel was equipped with some 250 life jackets, eight lifeboats, and other safety gear. The 67 survivors identified in some reports include 41 men, 11 women, and 15 children.

Survivor Adam Matabheek said he noticed the vessel leaning several hours before it capsized. "We dismissed it as rough water and went to sleep," Matabheek said. He ended up in the water and managed to grab a lifejacket before drifting through the night.

The MV Barima was built in 1939 and is 40m long. Authorities placed the capsizing location near Iron Punt, while other reports said the vessel capsized near the Pomeroon River.

Authorities say families of all recorded passengers and crew members have been contacted. Rachel Welch and her three children, Nathaniel Jr. (8), Natalia (5), and Ezekiel (3), remain among the missing. Loureen Singh survived by holding on to the same lifejacket as Carlita Matabheek.

The sinking of the MV Barima has triggered a large-scale multinational search effort in Guyanese waters, showing the risks associated with maritime transport in the region. The discrepancy in survivor counts between 53 and 67 reflects the chaotic nature of the immediate aftermath and the ongoing difficulty in accounting for all individuals on board.

The vessel's age, dating back to 1939, and the conflicting reports on its safety equipment inventory have become focal points for preliminary inquiries. The expansion of the search area to 1,070 square kilometers reflects the scale of the operation required to locate missing persons in the coastal waters near the Pomeroon River and Iron Punt.