Ferry Disaster in Guyana: Survivors Describe Horrific Sinking of MV Barima
At least 69 people have been rescued after the MV Barima, a 87-year-old ferry, capsized in the waters off the Essequibo coast in Guyana over the weekend. The tragic incident has left many families grieving, with some survivors still searching for their loved ones in the aftermath.
According to Prime Minister Mark Phillips, as many as 179 people were aboard the ferry when it sank, far more than the 116 passengers and 17 crew listed on its manifest. The death toll is expected to rise dramatically, with 27 bodies already found, including four children.
A survivor, Helena Moonsammy, who lost four of her grandchildren in the disaster, described the chaotic scene as the ferry sank in an instant. ‘I was fighting for my life. The boat sunk in minutes, seconds,’ she recalled, saying that boxes fell on her as she tried to save her grandchildren. ‘I told my grandbabies to cling on to anything as I hollered for them. I prayed all night and was in the water for nine hours.’
Another survivor, Alicia Atkinson, 18, was able to save her 10-month-old son but is still missing her 3-year-old daughter. ‘I ended up in the water and was hustling to come up for air, but my daughter just rushed out of my hand and disappeared,’ she said, fighting back tears.
As the investigation into the capsizing of the MV Barima gets underway, officials have suspended all staff associated with the management and loading of the ferry amid suspicion that they might have illegally loaded the ferry with additional people and cargo without putting them on the manifest. The practice of unofficially selling seats to friends and associates for cash without adding their names to the manifest has persisted for decades at state-run ferry terminals.
The MV Barima had been dry docked and overhauled in 2024 and was due for major repairs in October. Neighboring countries have sent boats, spotter planes, and rescue personnel, including a contingent of divers from French Guiana, to assist in the search and rescue operation.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said that the rescued captain and at least one other crew member tested positive for marijuana and remain in police custody as part of the criminal investigation.
The government has launched a criminal probe into the incident, and officials are preparing to switch from a rescue operation to a recovery one. President Irfaan Ali has called on the nation to come together in the aftermath of the tragedy, saying, ‘Brace yourself for the coming days. It is going to be a difficult period for us as a people and as a country. May God watch over Guyana and bring us through this horrible experience.’
The tragedy has left many in Guyana and beyond in shock, with the international community offering condolences to the families affected.
