Britons and Americans Missing After Yacht Sinks Off Sicily in Storm

A super yacht named Bayesian sank off the Sicilian coast during severe weather, leaving four British nationals, two Americans, and one Canadian unaccounted for. The incident occurred with 22 people on board, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.

Coastguard patrol boats and firefighters managed to rescue fifteen individuals from the stricken 56-metre vessel, among them a one-year-old child. Sadly, one body was recovered near the wreck site, while six others remain missing, according to Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Italian fire rescue service.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office has confirmed that they are in contact with local authorities to provide support for affected British nationals. They are closely monitoring the situation as the search continues.

According to a statement from the Italian coastguard, the yacht sank around 5:00 am local time after a violent storm hit the area. The Bayesian, which was sailing under the British flag, had a crew of 10 and 12 passengers on board at the time of sinking.

Rescue divers are currently attempting to access the hull of the yacht, which is submerged approximately 49 metres beneath the surface. The local public prosecutor’s office in Termini Imerese has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Of the individuals rescued, eight were taken to nearby hospitals, including the one-year-old, and all have been reported in stable condition. The luxury yacht was constructed by the Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008. It features an aluminum hull and has the capability to reach speeds of up to 15 knots.

The yacht had departed from the Sicilian port of Milazzo on August 14 and was last tracked, according to the tracking application Vesselfinder, just east of Palermo on the evening prior to the incident, listed as “at anchor.”

Local media reports mention that a waterspout struck the yacht around the time of the calamity. A waterspout is a weather phenomenon that resembles a tornado, characterized by a column of rotating wind and water descending from a cloud over a large body of water.

Fishermen in the area reported observing a small tornado just off the coast around 3:55 am, shortly before witnessing a distress flare believed to be fired from the yacht. When they approached the scene, they claimed to have seen only “scattered remains of the sailboat” floating in the water.

Italy has faced inclement weather recently, with storms and heavy rainfall causing significant damage and leading to floods and landslides in the northern regions of the country, following an extended period of intense heat.

The search and rescue operations are ongoing as local authorities continue to scour the waters for any signs of the missing individuals. The situation remains tense as families wait for updates about their loved ones.