The 50-meter-long ship with 22 people on board sank at around 5 a.m. in the sea off Porticello near Palermo. 15 people were rescued by patrol boats from the coast guard and the fire brigade, the authorities said. The people on board were mainly Britons, a New Zealander, a man from Sri Lanka, two Anglo-French and an Irishman. Fire brigade divers rescued a one-year-old boy who was taken to the children’s hospital in Palermo. The survivors received medical treatment.
According to witnesses, the yacht was not far from Porticello’s harbor when the violent storm broke out. A party had been organized on board that lasted late into the night. It is suspected that the seven missing people were in the cabins and could not get to safety in time. A boat that was near the “Bayesian” provided first aid to the survivors.
The wreck is currently lying on the seabed at a depth of 49 metres. The search for the missing people is underway with diving units and helicopters.
This article was updated at 10:51 am.
