MV BARIMA DISTRESS: Death toll rises to 10
July 20 2026
The death toll in the MV Barima tragedy has climbed to 10 after eight more bodies were recovered on Monday during an extensive multi-agency search and recovery operation off the Essequibo Coast.
The latest recoveries bring the total number of confirmed fatalities to 10 since the vessel capsized late Saturday while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
The search effort is being carried out jointly by the Government of Guyana through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Coast Guard, private vessels, civilian volunteers, and teams deployed by the Opposition’s We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) movement.
Among those recovered on Monday were a baby girl believed to be between two and three years old, a pregnant Indigenous woman, and a man with long curly hair who was wearing black jeans and a distinctive belt. Authorities hope the descriptions will assist relatives in identifying their loved ones.
The recovered bodies are being transported to Charity, where the necessary procedures will be carried out.
Authorities have deployed 13 search assets as recovery operations continue, with teams combing the waters in search of those who remain missing.
Meanwhile, investigations into the circumstances surrounding the sinking are continuing, including concerns over the vessel’s passenger manifest and possible safety breaches.
As the search enters another day, both government agencies and supporting teams have pledged to continue the operation until every possible effort has been made to account for those believed to have been aboard the MV Barima.
