Almost a week after the serious ferry accident off the coast of Guyana, 73 dead have now been recovered.
July 24, 2026, 8:07 p.mJuly 24, 2026, 8:07 p.m
As President Irfaan Ali announced at a meeting with relatives, divers are continuing to search for missing people in the Atlantic on Friday.
People on land wait under tents to identify the victims.Image: keystone
Authorities in the South American country suspect that around 180 people were on board, although only 133 are listed in the ship’s manifest – including 17 crew members. After the accident on Sunday night (local time), 79 survivors were rescued.
Emergency services from Guyana and other countries are involved in the rescue work. According to the president, divers are trying to gain access to the interior of the sunken ferry, as the Guyana Chronicle reported. The government declared three days of national mourning.
Two crew members and port official arrested
The cause of the accident is still unclear. Among other things, possible overloading of the boat, which is more than 80 years old, is being investigated.
Meanwhile, three people were arrested. These are the captain of the ferry and a crew member who, according to authorities, tested positive for cannabis. A port official responsible for checking the ship’s cargo was also arrested, Premier Mark Phillips said.
The ferry crashed off Guyana on its way between the capital Georgetown and the remote community of Port Kaituma. The small village is located on a river canal in inland Guyana in the oil-rich Essequibo region near the border with Venezuela. (sda/dpa)