ROME, 19th August, 2024 (WAM) -- A luxury superyacht sailboat carrying foreign tourists capsized and sank off Sicily, a southern Italian island, in bad weather early Monday. One body was found, six people were missing and 15 people were rescued, the Associated Press quoted authorities as saying.
The British-flagged, 56-metre (184-foot) “Bayesian” had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, representing British, American and Canadian nationalities, the Italian coast guard said.
Fifteen people were rescued initially and taken to shore at Porticello, where eight were in the hospital. One body was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for, said Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Italian fire rescue service.
A helicopter and rescue boats from the coast guard, carabinieri, fire rescue and civil protection service were at the scene searching for the missing and had located the wreck at a depth of 50 metres (163 feet). The boat capsized around 05.00 off the port of Porticello.
Experienced deep-water divers were arriving at the scene to try to enter the hull, he said. Those who had not been rescued included one member of the crew and six passengers, the coast guard said.