A ferry carrying 116 passengers sank off the coast of Guyana and eight people have been rescued so far, local authorities said. The MV Barima capsized near Iron Punt, en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma. A distress call was received at 23:01 local time (03:01 +1 BST), triggering an urgent search operation involving state
A ferry carrying 116 passengers sank off the coast of Guyana and eight people have been rescued so far, local authorities said.
The MV Barima capsized near Iron Punt, en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
A distress call was received at 23:01 local time (03:01 +1 BST), triggering an urgent search operation involving state and private vessels, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said in a statement posted on social media.
The status of the operation is currently unclear and it is not known if authorities hope to rescue the remaining passengers.
The MV Barima was built in 1939 and is 40 m (131 ft) long, according to a VesselFinder listing.
Edghill said it was equipped with 250 life jackets, two rigid lifeboats and six inflatable lifeboats.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips is said to be leading the government’s response.
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