(Kaieteur News) – Search and recovery teams have now retrieved a total of 72 bodies following the tragic capsizing of the MV Barima, as multi-agency operations, Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed, local fishermen, and private boat owners press forward off the coast of Guyana.

While the official death toll stood at 65 during a press briefing at 17:00 hrs. on Wednesday, July 22, overnight rescue efforts yielded five additional recoveries, bringing the total to 70 by Wednesday evening. Operations on Thursday, July 23, resulted in the retrieval of two more bodies.

Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips confirmed during an address to the nation on Thursday evening that 65 of the recovered victims have been positively identified by their families.