Search and rescue operations continue off the coast of Guyana amid fears that the death toll from a passenger ferry sinking could rise to 110 people, after it capsized and sank during its journey between the capital Georgetown and the town of Port Kaituma, in one of the worst maritime disasters the country has witnessed in decades.

According to The Telegraph, the ferry was carrying 179 people at the time of the incident on Saturday evening off the coast of the Essequibo region, while authorities confirmed that 27 people have died so far, and 83 others are still missing, after rescue teams found the ship's wreckage on the seabed off the northern Atlantic coast of the country.

The government announced that preliminary criminal investigations revealed that the captain of the ferry and one crew member, who were rescued, tested positive for marijuana use, and have been detained for questioning.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips confirmed that the authorities will deal firmly with any negligence or violations, emphasizing that anyone found to be involved in negligence, misconduct, or committing a crime will bear full legal responsibility, and there will be no leniency in cases that endangered civilian lives.

The police are investigating several hypotheses that may be behind the incident, including the presence of a number of passengers exceeding the officially registered number, along with suspicions of drug use by some crew members.

According to the authorities, the official passenger list indicated that there were only 133 people on board the ferry, including 116 passengers and 17 crew members, but investigations confirmed that the actual number reached 179 people.

Reports indicate that some workers at government ferry stations have been accustomed to selling tickets off the books for cash, which led to the omission of several passengers' names from travel lists, complicating the process of accounting for the missing.

Initial information also revealed that the ferry, built in 1939, was in a deteriorating technical condition and was scheduled for extensive maintenance and refurbishment in October.

Several passengers reported on social media that they noticed water leaking into the cargo hold before the incident occurred.

For his part, President Irfaan Ali visited a number of survivors receiving treatment at a hospital in the town of Mahaica, describing his meeting with them as 'very moving,' stressing that the government continues to focus its efforts on rescuing those who can be saved, and providing psychological and humanitarian support to survivors and families of victims.

Ferries are a primary means of transportation in Guyana, especially in the interior regions that lack an integrated road network due to dense forests, and both residents and businesses rely on them to avoid high domestic air travel costs.

The incident occurs in the Essequibo region, which accounts for about two-thirds of Guyana's territory and is subject to a territorial dispute with Venezuela, which claims sovereignty over it due to its large oil reserves.

Survivor Elena Monsamie recounted that the ferry suddenly tilted after being hit by a large wave, before water quickly flooded in within seconds, causing it to sink.

She added that she survived by holding onto a wooden box floating amid the wreckage, but lost her two-year-old child as they were separated during her attempt to save him. According to her account, she also managed to rescue another woman who asked her to hold onto the same box until rescue teams arrived.

Authorities reported that at least 15 children were among the survivors, and small private boats played a crucial role in rescuing 17 people from the sea before official rescue teams arrived.

Authorities launched a distress call after receiving an emergency signal at 11:01 p.m. local time, triggering a widespread search operation involving government teams and civilian boats.

French forces from neighboring French Guiana also sent a support team comprising 12 divers, two doctors, and a mechanic to assist in search and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Guyana's Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony announced that three survivors remain hospitalized with minor injuries, while the rest have been discharged after receiving necessary medical care.

The search and rescue operations continue off the coast of Guyana, amid fears that the number of victims from the sinking of a passenger ferry may rise to 110 people, after it capsized and sank during its journey between the capital Georgetown and the city of Port Kaituma, in one of the worst maritime disasters the country has witnessed in decades.