One person dead and six missing after luxury yacht sinks off the coast of Sicily during storm

On Monday, a luxury superyacht sank near Palermo, Italy during a storm, resulting in one death and six people missing. The 184-ft sailboat had 22 people on board, and 15 were rescued, including a 1-year-old baby. The captain of a ship that rescued survivors described the strong hurricane gust that caused the ship to sink. Four people were injured, with three being heavily injured and taken to a children’s hospital or emergency room. Seven adults and seven people were accounted for elsewhere. Italy’s Fire Department deployed divers, motorboats, and helicopters for the search at a depth of 165-ft. The yacht was identified as the Bayesian, with a capacity for 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, and is listed for charter at 195,000 euros per week. The boat’s last known location was east of Palermo, with a status of “at anchor” on Sunday evening. Fabio La Bianca, who took a picture of the boat before the incident, expressed shock and sadness over the tragedy. Volunteers and divers from multiple cities were aiding in the search effort. The cause of the sinking was attributed to severe weather conditions, including a strong storm and tornado. The Coast Guard and Port Authority were involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.

Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com