Guyana ferry death toll rises to 41 as more bodies are recovered

A woman covers her face as she is comforted during an event where Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali (not pictured) meets with family members of victims of a ferry disaster, after the MV Barima, a ferry that was travelling from the capital Georgetown to the northwest village of Port Kaituma, capsized off the coast over the weekend, in a location given as Mabaruma, Guyana, in this handout image released July 20, 2026. Office of the President - Guyana via Facebook/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES. MANDATORY CREDIT. BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE.

GEORGETOWN, July ⁠21 (Reuters) - The death toll ⁠from a ferry that ‌capsized off the coast of Guyana has risen to 41, with ​14 more bodies ⁠recovered, the government ⁠said on Tuesday. The number ⁠of ‌people who have been rescued has ⁠risen to 77, the government ​added.

The ‌vessel overturned late on Saturday ⁠with ​179 people on board, leaving dozens of people feared ⁠dead.

Authorities suggested that an ​inaccurate passenger manifest and suspected drug use by the ⁠crew may have contributed to the disaster.

The government said 16 vessels have been ​deployed in the ⁠wreckage area, with French ​and local divers ‌leading search efforts.

(Reporting ​by Kemol King, Editing by Daina Beth Solomon)