Huge search operation after passenger ferry sinks off coast of Guyana

Key Points:

• A ferry sank off the coast of Guyana on Saturday night, prompting a massive search-and-rescue operation and being described as one of the country's worst maritime disasters, with two confirmed deaths so far.
• Authorities launched a criminal investigation after discovering the ferry’s passenger manifest was inaccurate and that the captain and first engineer tested positive for marijuana; both are now in police custody.
• The MV Barima, certified to carry 397 passengers, had only 250 lifejackets and was reported to have no mechanical issues, but the manifest listed fewer passengers than were actually on board, raising concerns about safety compliance.
• Survivors recounted the ferry leaning before capsizing in darkness, with many trapped or drifting at sea overnight; families remain missing, including children, intensifying the tragedy.
• The Guyanese government has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident, with international and regional partners assisting in the expanded search covering over 1,000 square kilometers.