A ferry known as the MV Barima capsized off the coast of Guyana on Saturday night while traveling from Georgetown to a gold-mining outpost in the inland Essequibo region. While some reports indicate there were 133 passengers and crew on board, authorities have stated that the passenger list is inaccurate.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips reported on Monday that at least 27 people have died and 83 remain missing. Rescuers have saved between 67 and 69 passengers, including 15 children, though no survivors have been found since Sunday afternoon. Search and rescue operations continue as crews scour the area for the missing.
Investigators believe the ferry may have been overloaded, resulting in Guyana's worst marine disaster in decades. The captain and crew members have been arrested and detained after drug tests revealed violations.