An aging ferry carrying more than 100 people capsized off the coast of Guyana, with 67 rescued and rescue teams searching for the rest, officials said Sunday.
The MV Barima ferry left the small English-speaking country in the northeastern corner of South America on Saturday afternoon with 133 people on board for a trip from the capital, Georgetown, to the town of Port Kaituma.
Port Kaituma is located in the oil-rich Essequibo region and ferries travel along the Atlantic coast before heading upriver to reach its forested heights.
Initial indications are that the ship capsized after being hit by a large wave, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said on Facebook.
“Search and Rescue is in progress. 67 people, including 15 children have been rescued so far,” he said.
Those rescued include 41 men, 11 women, six boys and nine girls, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said in a statement on Sunday.
