MV Barima Capsized After Being Struck by Huge Wave – Initial Reports

Published: 19th of July 2026 by Patrick Carpen.

Last updated: July 22, 2026 at 16:04 pm

The general Guyanese population woke up to tragic news on the morning of Sunday 19th of July 2026. The MV Barima, a passenger and cargo vessel which had plied Guyana’s waters for decades, had capsized.

There are slightly varying reports as to the number of persons onboard at the time of the incident. Minister Juan Edghill and Prime Minister Mark Phillips reported that 116 passengers and 17 crew members were on board while Capt. Gerry Goveia of Roraima Airways suggested that 200 persons might have been on board. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the boat was overloaded as persons were desperate to get home and forced themselves on board or were let on board without proper documentation.

By 10 PM on Sunday morning, 19th of July 2026, Presdisent Irfaan Ali reported that 67 persons were rescued so far as the search and rescue operation continues to intensify. Investigations later revealed that a significant number of those rescued weren’t registered suggesting that many persons boarded the boat without a ticket.

The MV Barima reportedly departed Georgetown en route to Port Kaituma on Saturday 18th of July 2026 at a little after 3PM. At around 10:30 PM, it was reportedly struck by a huge wage which sent it sideways. A passenger who survived, recounting his experience, said that the boat “turned over.” Minister Juan Edgehill urged persons to await a thorough investigation into what caused the tragedy while working with initial reports of being struck by a huge wave.

Iron Point (or Iron Punt) Near the Mouth of the Pomeroon

The MV Barima capsized at a location known as Iron Point or Iron Punt in the Atlantic Ocean just off the mouth of the Pomeroon River, about 7 miles off the Essequibo Coast. The waters are said to be extremely rough in that area and some persons suggested that this boat was not built for such rough waters.

Iron Point (sometimes spelled Iron Punt) is a well-known, hazardous stretch of open Atlantic Ocean located just off Guyana’s coast near the mouth of the Pomeroon River in Region One. The area is infamous for rough, unpredictable waters, making it a difficult route for local mariners and small vessels. Iron Point marks a critical navigational threshold where riverine travel from the Pomeroon River transitions into the rougher open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, typically heading toward the Moruca River or Region One. Because of the treacherous currents and open-ocean conditions, mariners frequently face challenges with rough seas and mechanical failures.

Sudden or Gradual?

While most survivors describe a sudden lash of wave which send the boat listing sideways, two short clips which surfaced on social media appear to show the boat taking in water prior to the disaster. It is not clear how many minutes or hours before the tragedy this happened. The videos (reproduced below) were posted by a reputable Guyanese journalist, Alva Solomon, however, we cannot be 100% sure this is the same boat and the same incident.

Distress Signals

Reports are that the ship’s crew started sending out distress signals at around 10:30 PM on the night of July 18 2026 when the boat started to experience difficulty or when it was hit by the strong wave. At the same time, passengers started making calls and sending WhatsApp voice notes to relatives and friends which were relayed to the relevant authorities thus triggering an alarm.

A Strong Survivor

The video below, produced by News Room Guyana, shows a survivor who made a superhuman escape from the tragedy. He describes being dragged under water, taking off his shows manually, and clamoring to the surface while swallowing water, then tying bottles together with this belt to stay afloat.

Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill Insists That There Was No Overloading

The video below, posted by the Ministry of Public Works, shows Minister Edghill vehemently rejecting suggestions that the boat was overloaded or that overloading was the cause of the capsizing.

Rough Waters

The location where the MV Barima sank is known as Iron Punt. Reports are that a huge wave hit the boat causing it to capsize. One citizen who knows the location posted a video to show how rough the waters are at this location. He said this (video below) is what is looks like on calm day at Iron Punt.

Was the Boat Really Overloaded?

Although the Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill insists the boat was not loaded beyond capacity, several unconfirmed sources say it was. Also, it appears that some persons might have boarded the boat without being listed. The video below claims to show the boat taking off from Georgetown. Although posted by several reputable sources, this publication cannot verify whether this is the MV Barima taking off from Georgtown.

Mother Reportedly Lost All Seven of Her Children to the Somber Waters of the Atlantic

One of the passengers on the MV Barima, Elena Moonsammy, said that she barely survived, but her two-year-old baby was ripped out of her hands. She said she barely had time to save herself and when she looked around, all seven of her children were gone. One girl, she said, would have turned 13 in a few days. The video below, in which she tells her story, was produced by Guyanese Media Kiskadee Watch.

What About Life Jackets?

Most of those rescued weren’t wearing life jackets. According to trusted sources, there were enough life jackets on board for all passengers. However, now is not the time to bash persons for not wearing life jackets. Whenever we board a ferry, we hardly think it will sink, and we pray to God it doesn’t. Although there were enough life jackets on the boat for everyone, it’s human nature to think that the ferry won’t sink, at least not this time. Further, this particular journey is over 24 hours, and who wears life jacket on a voyage that long? When the boat started to sink, persons might scramble for life jackets, but this time, it happened too fast!

This event, however, might push authorities to make life jackets mandatory on the big boats no matter how calm the waters seem.

Stories of Strength and Heroism Surface

A Hero from White Water – Lance Corporal Job Thom

From the heartbreaking depths of this national tragedy rise stories of strength, determination, beating the odds, selflessness, and heroism. Here are some of them.

In times of tragedy, true heroes reveal themselves through their courage and selflessness. One such hero is Job Thom, a proud son of White Water Village and a dedicated soldier of the Guyana Defence Force.

Job was among the passengers on board the MV Barima when the vessel sank. Faced with fear, darkness, and uncertainty, he did not think only of his own survival. Instead, he risked his life to save others.

Job recalls seeing people disappearing beneath the water, struggling to stay alive. Without hesitation, he pulled them to safety—one after another. By his own count, he rescued 11 people, including a man nearly twice his size. His courage, strength, and determination gave those individuals another chance at life.

Today, Job’s family is filled with gratitude that he survived such a terrifying ordeal. The people of White Water Village are equally thankful, not only because one of our own returned home safely, but because he returned as a hero whose bravery saved many others.

Lance Corporal Thom has made White Water proud. His actions remind us of the values we hold dear: courage, compassion, and putting others before ourselves.

On behalf of the entire White Water community, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to Job. We pray that God continues to bless and protect him, granting him a long, healthy, and fulfilling life as he continues to serve his country and inspire future generations.

Job Tom is our hero_a brave, young, and strong son of White Water. We are proud of you.

Reposted from White Water Facebook page

Man Sacrifices Life to Save Woman and Child

From the ashes of one of Guyana’s most heartbreaking tragedies rise stories of strength, survival, resilience, and heroism. Here is one such. A young mother recounts her struggle to keep her head above water after being thrown overboard the MV Barima with her baby.

A stranger handed her his floatation device before slipping below the somber waters of the Atlantic. Sometimes, we ask ourselves, where is God in the middle of all this? Then stories like these remind us that God is right here in the middle of all this. Stories like these remind us that, despite our flaws and failures, humans still carry a divine spark, and God sometimes shows up in the most unexpected ways.

This man may be unknown to us, but heaven knows his name. His body may have sunk to a watery grave, but his spirit rose up to glory. This brother just got a first-class ticket to heaven.

International Cooperation: French Team Arrives to Bolster Search and Rescue Operation

Underscoring Guyana’s strong ties and strategic partnership with international powers, a French military team arrived in Guyana on the 20th of July 2026 to assist with the ongoing search and rescue operation. President Ali made the following post on his Facebook page:

A 15-member team from the French Armed Forces in French Guiana arrived in Essequibo to assist with ongoing search, rescue, and recovery operations. Led by Lieutenant Commander Alexis Touboul, the team includes 12 specialist divers, two medics, and one mechanic. – President Ali

Locating the MV Barima

The sunken vessel was reportedly found at around 3PM on Monday 20th of July 2026 after being reported by fishermen. About one hour after the government put out the notice posted below, the rescue team was sure they found the location of the MV Barima.

Victims

2-Y-O Kelly Williams from White Water Village, Region One has been identified as the youngest of the 10 bodies recovered after MV Barima sank late Saturday. Her body was identified by her aunt. Her parents are Clerinnys Valenzuela and Smith Williams is still missing. (Source: Sheriff News Network).

Shivanna La Cruz, 32, of White Water/White Creek, Region One, is among the 10 bodies recovered. La Cruz was onboard MV Barima when it sank late Saturday while en route to Port Kaituma. Her body has been identified by a relative, other relatives are on their way to Region 2.

Dwayne Forbes, a 20-year-old resident of Kumaka Waterfront, Region One, who was among the crew members who were onboard the MV Barima when it sank late Saturday has been confirmed dead. His body is among the bodies recovered today during a search by authorities. His relatives are being asked to ID him at the Suddie Hospital in Region Two.