A major search and rescue operation is under way off the coast of Georgetown, Guyana, after the ferry MV Barima capsized overnight with 133 passengers and crew on board. The vessel went down in darkness, triggering an emergency response that has continued through the following day as authorities work to locate those still unaccounted for.

By Monday afternoon, 67 people had been recovered, according to officials coordinating the rescue. Fifteen children are among the survivors, a detail that has added urgency to an already fraught operation. The search perimeter has been widened considerably since the early hours, with a mixed fleet of state vessels and private civilian boats now combing the waters. Conditions have shifted from the near total darkness of the initial response to daylight searching, though officials have not indicated that visibility or sea conditions have significantly eased the task.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips has given the clearest account so far of how the disaster unfolded. A distress signal was received shortly after 11pm, prompting the deployment of rescue teams. Phillips has also addressed early speculation about the cause, indicating that preliminary reports do not point to overloading as a factor. The ferry was carrying 133 people at the time it sank, well below its licensed capacity of more than 300. This detail is likely to shape the direction of the maritime investigation that officials say will follow once the search phase concludes.

On the ground in Georgetown, the response has centred on the immediate needs of survivors and their families. Assistance hubs have been established to provide support to those pulled from the water and to relatives still waiting for news of the missing. Details of the exact number of people still unaccounted for have not been finalised, and officials have been cautious about issuing figures while the search continues.

The disaster has drawn reaction from across the region. The Jamaican government extended its condolences through State Minister Abka Fitz-Henley, who conveyed sympathy on behalf of Jamaica to the government and people of Guyana. The statement reflected the wider concern felt across Caribbean nations, many of which rely on ferry transport between islands and coastal communities in ways that make such disasters resonate beyond national borders.

The Caribbean Community, CARICOM, also issued a statement addressing the incident. The regional body singled out the overnight rescue crews for praise, citing their bravery and the speed with which they mobilised in the hours immediately after the distress call was received. CARICOM's statement did not comment on the cause of the sinking, focusing instead on the response effort and the coordination between Guyanese authorities and volunteer crews.

Ferries remain a critical part of transport infrastructure in Guyana, particularly for communities along its extensive coastline and river networks, where road access can be limited. The scale of Monday's disaster, and the number of people involved, has placed renewed attention on the safety protocols governing such vessels, even as officials caution against drawing conclusions before a formal investigation begins.

For now, the priority remains the search itself. Rescue teams are continuing to operate through the day, with officials indicating that the expanded perimeter reflects both the drift patterns expected given the currents off Georgetown and the need to cover as much ground as possible while conditions allow. No timeline has been given for when the search might be scaled back or when the maritime investigation into the vessel's sinking will formally open.

Families of those still missing have gathered near the coordination hubs set up in Georgetown, awaiting further updates as the operation continues.