A ferry carrying 116 passengers has sunk off the coast of Guyana, with eight people rescued so far, authorities say.
The MV Barima, built in 1939, is 40 metres (131 feet) long. It capsized near Iron Punt while en route from Georgetown to Port Kaituma.
The distress call arrived at 23:01 local time (03:01+1 BST), sparking a search operation involving state and private vessels, according to Public Works Minister Juan Edghill.
The current state of the operation is unclear, and authorities have not confirmed whether the remaining passengers will be rescued.
The vessel was fitted with 250 life‑jackets, two rigid life‑rafts and six inflatable life‑rafts.
Prime Minister Mark Phillips has been leading the government’s response to the incident.
