The number of people rescued following the capsizing of the MV Barima off the coast of Guyana on Saturday evening has risen to 67, as authorities continue an expanded search for those still unaccounted for.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said those rescued include 41 men, 11 women, six boys and nine girls, all of whom are receiving medical treatment at facilities along the Essequibo Coast. The vessel’s captain is also among the survivors.

The MV Barima was carrying 116 passengers and 17 crew members when it capsized while travelling from Georgetown to Port Kaituma in the Barima-Waini (Region One) administrative region.

Phillips said search efforts have been significantly intensified.

“The search area has been expanded from 400 square kilometres to 1,070 square kilometres since first light. Additionally, the assets deployed have been significantly increased,” he said.

Authorities have not disclosed how many people remain missing.

At the time of the incident, the ferry was equipped with 250 life jackets, six inflatable life rafts and two rigid life rafts, according to officials.

Meanwhile, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill rejected claims circulating on social media that the vessel had been overloaded.

“The boat was not overloaded by passengers or by cargo. There was no engine problem or any mechanical problem,” Edghill said.

He said survivor accounts also indicate the incident was not caused by overloading or the vessel taking on water, but was related to tidal conditions.

Edghill noted that the MV Barima is licensed to carry 284 tonnes of cargo, while the cargo manifest showed it was transporting 268 tonnes at the time of the incident.

He added that the ferry is licensed to carry 397 passengers, far more than the 116 passengers who were on board.

“The misinformation of overloading as the cause of this incident must be dealt with for what it is—misinformation and something to create panic and public mischief,” the minister said.

Phillips also disclosed that the MV Barima was last dry-docked in 2024 and remains within its required maintenance schedule. He said the vessel is fitted with new engines and typically makes three to four trips each month between Georgetown and Port Kaituma.

The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation as search and rescue operations continue.