THE Essequibo River claimed the lives of three children on Saturday when the boat in which they were travelling capsized.

Information received by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) indicates that Linda Joseph (12), Norsha Ayaw (3), and Newton Ayaw (11 months) were among seven passengers on a small boat that was going from Parabara Village to Masakenari Village in Region Nine.

It was disclosed by the police on Monday that the incident happened near Piri Piri, Essequibo River around 3:00pm.

Information received by the police from by the Masakenari Village District Development Officer Donny Charlie revealed that the 35-foot wooden boat propelled by a 30 HP outboard engine was also transporting 72 sacks of cement and three gasoline drums.

The 27-year-old boat Captain, Joseph Ayaw, told police he collided with a rock during the journey and the boat capsized, flinging all the passengers and contents into the river. Ayaw, along with six other passengers, managed to swim to shore while the three children drowned.

The captain is the father of two of the victims (Norsha and Newton Ayaw), while Linda Joseph’s parents were also on the boat at the time.

The bodies of the children were later recovered floating in the area. Their faces were partially eaten by piranhas.

The children were laid to rest on Sunday at Masakenari Village. According to the police, the bodies will be exhumed at a later date as investigations are ongoing.