Several persons are missing after a Venezuelan passenger boat, carrying more than 20 persons, exploded off the Waini River, Region One this morning. The boast was heading to Charity, Essequibo after departing Venezuela around 04:30 hrs this morning. The passengers are Venezuelans and Guyanese.
Early this morning, one woman identified as Phylis Archer was rescued and taken to the Mabaruma hospital. Archer, a Guyanese, who had been residing in the neighbouring country for a number of years, was returning home permanently.
Her husband, however, is still missing following the mishap. It is unclear if any other person was rescued thus far. While information is sketchy at this time, the Guyana Standard has been informed that a small flame started around the engine and in less than a second, the engine exploded, causing the blaze to spread all over the boat.
Reports are that most of the passengers jumped off the vessel before the explosion. Information is still coming in. On a daily basis, a number of Venezuelans and Guyanese who had been residing in that country have been coming to Guyana in small boats to escape the crisis there.
The country is currently struggling with an ongoing power outage.
