“The Mediterranean a petrol can” –

The news of the sinking of an English superyacht off the coast of Palermo has polarized the debate. Late yesterday evening, the first inspection by the fire brigade’s cave divers inside the wreck of the sailing boat Bayesian, which sank at dawn with 22 people on board (10 crew members and 12 passengers) near Porticello, ended with a negative outcome. Access was limited to the bridge, due to the difficulty represented by the presence of furnishings that obstruct the passage of the divers. The search will resume this morning. The body of the ship’s cook was recovered yesterday, but six people are still missing, four English and two Americans. In the meantime, investigations are underway into the possible causes of the tragedy and the factors that probably contribute to making the seas increasingly less safe. In a long interview given to Repubblica, the well-known meteorologist Paolo Sottocorona expressed his opinion on the matter.

“Every drop of water contains a very small amount of energy, in the form of heat. However, when put together they have the force of an avalanche. The Bayesian found himself, unfortunately, under the avalanche”: this is the first dry comment from Sottocorona, who has long insisted on the climate and water emergency. Tornadoes have always been there, of course, but “the warmer the sea, the stronger they are”, he immediately clarified. Something has clearly changed compared to the past. “Atmospheric phenomena often go off scale. The models that process weather forecasts correctly take sea temperature into account. In fact, last week they warned that there would be a very strong storm in the Balearics”, the expert emphasized. The advice for those who spot a tornado while sailing, according to the meteorologist, is to move away quickly. Even if, he explained, this is not always possible. “The warm sea seems pleasant, but heat from a physical point of view is energy. The Mediterranean at this moment is a petrol tank. If you put a match in it, that is, a current of cold air like those of these days, it explodes”, he added.