A number of soldiers were forced to plunge and swim to safety this morning after a military truck transporting the soldiers rolled overboard at the Kurupukari crossing in Region Eight.

At least two soldiers were seriously injured and had to be rushed to the hospital. There are also reports that a number of weapons went missing in the river and are still to be recovered.

According to eyewitnesses, the truck which was transporting members of the Guyana Defence Force from Lethem was being driven onto the pontoon for the crossing when the driver reportedly lost control after the braking system failed, resulting in the truck rolling overboard with the soldiers and their equipment and supplies. Usually, persons would have to disembark trucks using the pontoon and allow just the driver. It is unclear why the soldiers were in the truck as it was being driven onto the pontoon.

Another truck that was transporting goods was jammed and also rolled overboard.

The Guyana Defence Force is still to issue a statement on the incident more than four hours after it occurred. Video recordings of the incident showed a number of soldiers swimming to safety while others were helped out of the river. The video recordings also captured the trucks going down slowly into the river with their cargo.

With all of the soldiers who were onboard accounted for, the GDF has dispatched recovery teams to the area to go in search of the weapons that went overboard. Other teams are likely to be dispatched to assist with the removal of the trucks from the river.

The matter is under full investigation, military sources have revealed.

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