The Guyana boat with 116 people is turning around; more than 50 have been saved | Story

Efforts to rescue the survivors and crew are ongoing, authorities say.

Rescuers in Guyana are scrambling to find dozens of people missing at sea after a boat carrying 116 people and crew capsized off the coast, according to government officials.

The MV Barima, which called at 11pm on Saturday (03:00 GMT Sunday), capsized near Iron Punt en route from Guyana’s capital Georgetown to Port Kaituma.

Guyana Prime Minister Mark Phillips told AFP reporters on Sunday that 53 people had been rescued. He said the authorities hope to rescue more people as the search operation continues during the day.

The project involves Guyana’s coast guard and public vessels, according to Guyana’s Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill.

Edghill said the boat has 250 life jackets, eight lifeboats and other safety equipment.

He said a medical team was being sent to the search area to help people “as soon as they were rescued”.

“There is a search and rescue operation underway, and we are praying for everyone’s safety,” Edghill said in a video shared on Facebook.

The circumstances of the boat accident are not known.