Guyana ferry disaster: families demand answers as around 100 feared dead

Officials say 76 of the roughly 179 people believed to have been aboard survived, and 53 bodies have been found so far.The expected death toll from Guyana’s ferry disaster over the weekend has climbed to around 100, with the authorities facing mounting pressure to explain how the country’s worst maritime disaster in decades occurred.Officials said on Tuesday that 76 of the roughly 179 people believed to have been aboard survived, while 53 bodies have been recovered as divers continue searching for the remaining missing.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Guyana recovers 27 bodies after ferry disaster as crew comes under scrutinylist 2 of 3Death toll in Guyana dormitory fire rises to 20list 3 of 3Guyana votes in elections amid oil boom debate and Venezuela tensionsend of listFamilies have gathered in the northern town of Charity, waiting for news of loved ones still unaccounted for.“I know my baby is in that boat,” said Samantha Ramin, who lost two of her three children.The body of her young daughter has been found, but her baby boy is still missing.“I know he is down there. I know he is down there,” she said. “I want to see them find my baby.”The 87-year-old vessel, MV Barima, left Georgetown for Port Kaituma on Saturday but began taking on water and capsized off the Essequibo coast. Although its manifest listed 133 people, authorities now believe as many as 179 were aboard.Anger has grown over the length of time it took to rescue survivors, some of whom told reporters they spent hours stranded in the water.Passengers have also alleged the ferry was dangerously overloaded with people and heavy cargo, including engines, vehicles, fuel containers and commercial goods. One survivor said the boat was more crowded than on any of his previous trips, describing cargo packed tightly below deck.Anger has grown over the length of time it took to rescue survivors, some of whom told reporters they spent hours stranded in the water [Juan Edghill/Reuters]Survivors also allege the ferry suffered engine trouble shortly after departure but that the crew attempted repairs at sea rather than turning back, and that concerns about water entering the vessel were dismissed by crew members as routine.