Search and rescue and recovery operations for the MV Barima tragedy intensified on Tuesday, with authorities expanding the designated search area by an additional 400 square miles as efforts continue to locate those still unaccounted for.
In a media release issued on Tuesday afternoon, the Government of Guyana said 16 vessels are currently deployed within the wreckage area, with the expanded search now extending as far as Waini Point to maximise the chances of locating survivors or recovering victims.
As of 1:00 p.m., the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) confirmed that 77 people have been rescued, while the number of bodies recovered has risen to 41.
Officials said the first recovery for the day was made at approximately 10:15 a.m., with 14 bodies recovered by 1:00 p.m. during Tuesday’s operations.
French and local divers continue underwater search and recovery efforts at the wreckage site, where the MV Barima was located on Monday after an extensive search involving local fisherfolk, private sector partners and Government agencies.
Meanwhile, relatives continue the difficult process of identifying recovered victims at the Suddie Hospital.
The Government has also sought to rebut suggestions that information surrounding the tragedy has been withheld, pointing to a series of disclosures made as the investigation unfolded.
Officials noted that blood samples were taken from the captain and another crew member shortly after the incident. After both tested positive for cannabis, the results were immediately made public and the men were arrested.
Similarly, once investigators discovered that significantly more people had boarded the ferry than were listed on the official passenger manifest, that information was promptly released. Subsequent reviews of CCTV footage confirmed that 179 people had boarded the vessel, compared with the original manifest, which listed 116 passengers and 17 crew members.
Authorities are also urging the public to exercise caution when sharing videos and photographs circulating on social media, warning that some content may be fabricated, outdated or unrelated to the tragedy. Officials noted that many passengers lost their mobile phones when the vessel sank, making it difficult to immediately authenticate material purportedly showing the incident.
They have appealed to the public to verify information before sharing it to avoid causing unnecessary panic, distress and confusion for families awaiting news of loved ones.
Government officials maintain that the swift release of information throughout the response demonstrates a commitment to transparency.
While investigators have now established how many people boarded the vessel, authorities emphasised that a separate and independent investigation will determine what caused the MV Barima to capsize.
President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali has assured the nation that every available resource will remain committed to the search and recovery operation, while reaffirming that a full, thorough and independent investigation will establish precisely what occurred and whether any negligence, operational failures or other factors contributed to the tragedy.
