At least 41 dead after ferry capsizes off Guyana

A search and rescue operation for dozens of missing people continued on Sunday

The number of people known to have drowned after a passenger ferry capsized off the coast of Guyana on Saturday night has risen to 41 after 14 more bodies were recovered, the government says.

At the same time, the number of people rescued after the MV Barima turned over rose by eight to 77, but dozens more remain missing.

On Monday, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said 83 people were not accounted for.

Divers continued to search the site where the vessel capsized and people who believed their loved ones might have been on board the stricken vessel were asked to contact the authorities.

An investigation into the incident has been launched, Philips said.

"Let me be absolutely clear: where negligence, misconduct or criminal wrongdoing is established, those responsible will face the full force of the law," he said.

Guyana's Public Works Minister, Juan Edghill, expressed his anger at a news conference on Sunday, accusing those who operated the ferry of trying to "cheat the system".

The official registry had listed 133 as being on board the ferry, but Phillips said on Monday he was now "confident" there had been 179 people.

Edghill also said the ferry's captain and at least one crew member had tested positive for cannabis.

"We have zero tolerance for members of the crew drinking or smoking while at work. And for us to have positive tests from the captain... this is serious," the minister said.

He added the captain and several of his crew had been taken into police custody.

Search teams located some of the life crafts, but some survivors reported clinging on to boxes

The MV Barima left the capital, Georgetown, on Saturday afternoon local time, headed for Port Kaituma, in the north of the country.

The 40m-long (131ft) vessel was built in 1939, according to a listing on VesselFinder.

A survivor, Elena Moonsammy, told local news site Kiskadee Watch, external that the ferry had tilted after being hit by a large wave, with water quickly rushing in.

A distress call was received at 23:01 (03:01 GMT Sunday), triggering a search operation involving government teams and privately owned boats.

Moonsammy said she had survived by clinging to a box floating amidst the debris.

She had tried to hold on to the hand of her two-year-old child but they had been separated.

Moonsammy said she had managed to save a woman, whom she urged to also hold on to the floating box.

At least 15 children were among those rescued. Small private boats were key in pulling at least 17 survivors from the