Written By Lisa Murimi
A tragic maritime incident off the coast of Sicily has left one man dead and six others missing after a British-flagged sailing yacht sank early Monday morning.Â
The 56-meter yacht, known as the Bayesian, encountered a severe storm that resulted in water spouts and ultimately led to its sinking.
The yacht, which was carrying 22 people including 10 crew members and 12 passengers, faced treacherous conditions as intense storms swept through the region.
Among the passengers were American and Canadian nationals.
Emergency services managed to rescue 15 individuals, including a one-year-old child. Eight of the rescued are currently receiving hospital treatment.
The Italian fire brigade has identified the wreck at a depth of 50 meters, with divers actively searching for the missing.
The body of the deceased man was found outside the wreckage, though his nationality has not been confirmed.
The UK Foreign Office is in contact with local authorities, and a nearby vessel initially assisted the survivors before emergency services arrived.
The Bayesian’s last known position was near Porticello, shortly after 4:00 AM local time.
The yacht, managed by Camper and Nicholsons International, was reportedly caught in a series of intense storms affecting the western Mediterranean since last week.
