The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted reports which indicate that Guyanese nationals were among a group of immigrants rescued on a boat off the coast of Brazil on Sunday.

“On this matter, the Embassy of Guyana in Brasilia has checked with the Federal Police in the state Maranhão where the persons were brought ashore, and was advised that no Guyanese were picked up among the lot,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted in a statement .

It said that the nationals on board the vessel were reported to be from the countries of Senegal, Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde. Major media outlets in Brazil corroborate this understanding , the ministry said.

News network Telesur reported that fishermen found the vessel drifting off the Brazilian coastal town of Sao Jose de Ribamar, south of the Amazon River.

An attempt by authorities to locate the migrant boat from the air failed, so the fishermen towed it to port, while also feeding the stranded voyagers, the Brazilian navy said.

Once ashore, they were “given medical attention and food,” before being taken for processing by the Brazilian federal police, the Maranhao human rights department said.