PARAMARIBO, Suriname, Feb 2, CMC – French rescue teams Monday resumed their for search for at least three people after a boat carrying a number of teachers capsized on the Marowijne River that forms the border between French Guiana and Suriname on Saturday.
Official said that helicopters and boats have been deployed in the search for the survivors of the boating which was carrying seven people, along with the captain. Three of the occupants were rescued after the accident. One body has since been found.
According to the French officials at least 40 gendarmes, firefighters, and soldiers from the French armed forces, including specialised divers, have been deployed and that family members and others directly affected by the incident have been receiving psychological support.
Mayor Félix Dada said the boat had engine trouble and began taking in water.
The accident occurred on January 31 as the group was returning from an evening spent on the other side of the river. The public prosecutor is currently investigating the exact cause of the accident.
A crucial point in the ongoing investigation is the use of life jackets. Since January 1st, wearing a life jacket has been mandatory on all rivers in French Guiana, but compliance with this requirement has proven difficult in practice.
The prosecutor has indicated that a specific investigation will be conducted to determine whether the passengers used these safety devices.
CMC/ic/ir/2026