Govt expands recovery effort with regional assistance

Following the release of our last press statement at 13:00 hrs., maritime assets and personnel from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and the Brazilian Navy have arrived at the incident site and joined the ongoing search, rescue and recovery operations. Their teams will support the diving operations and other specialised recovery activities.

A total of 19 vessels and three aircraft are now engaged in the operations. The Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration Department have deployed smaller vessels to conduct searches further inland in an effort to locate any remaining passengers.

Technical teams continue to carry out detailed assessments of the capsized vessel to determine the safest and most effective method of righting it, thereby improving access for the diving teams operating at the site.

The current recovery plan involves repositioning the vessel before installing maritime salvage airbags (buoyancy balloons) around the wreckage to restore buoyancy. Once afloat, the vessel will be towed closer to the shoreline to facilitate further search and recovery operations.

Since the previous update, three additional bodies have been recovered, bringing the total number of bodies recovered today to five. The total number of bodies recovered since the commencement of the search and rescue operations now stands at 65, of which 44 have been positively identified by family members. To date, 23 of the bodies positively identified have been released to their families.

Regional authorities, together with the Ministry of Health, continue to work closely with grieving relatives to facilitate the release of the deceased for funeral rites and burial.

The number of rescued passengers and crew remains unchanged at 76.

His Excellency President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali has declared three days of national mourning in honour of those who lost their lives in this tragedy. During this period, all national flags are to be flown at half-mast.

Today, Wednesday, 22 July 2026, has also been declared a National Day of Prayer. Members of the public are invited to gather at the Kingston Seawall at 18:00 for a national service of prayer and reflection.

A Night of Reflection and Prayer will be held in Port Kaituma on Thursday, 23 July 2026, and in Mabaruma on Friday, 24 July 2026.

The Government of Guyana remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the ongoing recovery effort, providing assistance to affected families and ensuring that every available resource continues to be deployed until this operation is complete.

DPI