One body has been recovered, and six people remain missing after a 184-foot luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm on Monday, Aug. 19. According to the Italian coast guard, the yacht was struck by a tornado around 5 a.m. local time while anchored about half a mile from the port of Porticello.
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Fifteen people, including a one-year-old child, were rescued from the scene and transported to local hospitals, where all are reported to be in stable condition. The survivors include the yacht’s captain. However, search efforts continue for the six missing individuals, who are believed to be of British, American, and Canadian nationality.
The yacht, named “Bayesian,” was built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008 and registered under a British flag. The vessel was carrying a mix of British passengers and crew, as well as nationals from the U.S., Canada, and other countries.
Italy’s fire brigade confirmed that divers reached the wreck, now resting 160 feet below the surface. Helicopters have also been dispatched to assist in the ongoing search and rescue operation.
The storm that caused the yacht to sink is part of a broader pattern of severe weather affecting Italy, where heavy rain, floods, and landslides have been wreaking havoc in the northern regions following a period of extreme heat.
Authorities are investigating why the yacht remained anchored despite the adverse weather conditions.
[KARAH RUCKER]
ONE BODY HAS BEEN RECOVERED, AND SIX PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING AFTER A LUXURY YACHT SANK OFF THE COAST OF SICILY AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A TORNADO DURING A VIOLENT STORM.
THE TORNADO HIT THE ANCHORED YACHT EARLY MONDAY MORNING, ACCORDING TO THE ITALIAN COAST GUARD. THE 184 FOOT VESSEL HAD 22 PEOPLE ON BOARD, MOSTLY BRITISH, AMERICAN AND CANADIAN NATIONALS.
FIFTEEN PEOPLE, INCLUDING A ONE-YEAR-OLD CHILD, WERE RESCUED AND TAKEN TO LOCAL HOSPITALS, ALL IN STABLE CONDITION. MEANWHILE, EFFORTS TO LOCATE THE MISSING CONTINUE. ITALY’S FIRE BRIGADE CONFIRMED THAT DIVERS HAVE REACHED THE WRECK, NEARLY 160 FEET UNDERWATER, AND HELICOPTERS ARE HELPING WITH THE SEARCH.
THE SUDDEN AND INTENSE STORM IS PART OF A WAVE OF SEVERE WEATHER SWEEPING THROUGH ITALY, CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, INCLUDING FLOODS AND LANDSLIDES IN THE NORTHERN REGIONS.
AUTHORITIES ARE CONTINUING THE INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING WHY THE YACHT WAS ANCHORED DESPITE THE WEATHER WARNINGS.
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