Rescue teams from France, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago continued their search on Friday in Guyana for the bodies of the victims of the MV Barima ferry accident, which occurred on July 18. The tragedy left at least 72 passengers dead and about 30 missing.
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The international mission will use 1,500 tons of inflatable buoyancy bags to try to refloat the vessel, which was carrying 179 people, 76 of whom were rescued. The main objective is to move the stricken vessel to shallower waters to facilitate the extraction and recovery of the bodies.
Guyanan President Irfaan Ali explained the complexity of the underwater operation: The divers will try to descend to the vessel to secure these buoyancy bags and see if they can raise it. We want to maximize every possibility to achieve the greatest possible recovery. Ali added that the operation has already begun to position the wreck so that entry can be made and as much recovery as possible carried out from inside the wreck.
While awaiting an initial report from the diving team, additional troops have been deployed for foot searches along the coast, and helicopters have been activated. A total of 22 rescue assets, 19 vessels, and three aircraft remain deployed, covering an area of 2,100 square kilometers extending to Waini Point in the north of the country, Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed.
Fragata Independência integra operações de busca e salvamento na região do naufrágio do MV “Barima”, na Guiana.
Navio da Marinha do Brasil presta apoio com helicóptero, embarcações e equipe de mergulho.
Agência Marinha de Notícias
Primeiro-Sargento Fuzileiro-Naval Pinho pic.twitter.com/RqVtHATy6p
— Defesa Brasileira
(@DefesaBrazil) July 24, 2026
The text reads, “Brazilian Navy Frigate Independência joins search and rescue operations in the area of the MV “Barima” shipwreck, in Guyana. The Brazilian Navy ship is providing support with a helicopter, boats, and a diving team. Brazilian Navy News Agency. First Sergeant Marine Corpsman Pinho”
Phillips reported that 65 of the recovered bodies have already been identified by their families and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the affected families, assuring them that all available resources will remain committed until the operation is concluded safely and with dignity. On Thursday, government ministers joined grieving communities in Regions One, Three, Four, and Six to pay their final respects.
Initially, the government announced that there were approximately 133 people on board the vessel, but that number was revised on Monday after reviewing security camera footage, increasing to 179 passengers.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill specified that the ferry departed at 3:15 p.m. local time and the Timheri control tower received the distress call at 11:01 p.m., prompting the immediate activation of emergency response measures.
#FromTheSouth News Bits | In Guyana, the search continues for more than 66 people who are still missing after a ferry that departed from the country’s capital for Port Kaituma sank. pic.twitter.com/JRMcXNTAXb
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) July 23, 2026
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