Boat full of British tourists capsizes on Italy lake with four dead

A boat carrying British tourists celebrating a birthday has capsized in Italy, with four people thought to have died.

Two people were reported missing yesterday after the sixteen-metre boat collapsed on Lake Maggiore, which is on the border between Italy and Switzerland.

Divers searched overnight after a whirlwind overturned the boat carrying more than 20 tourists and crew Sunday evening. The final body was recovered early Monday.

Of the 25 on the boat, the majority managed to swim ashore between the towns of Lisanza and Piccaluga and were rescued by other boats.

Two people were taken to hospital in "moderately critical" condition, three were taken in "not very critical" condition and 15 were treated at the scene and did not need to be taken to hospital.

Divers work overnight to find bodies of the missing passengers (VIGILI DEL FUOCO HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Seven ambulances, an air ambulance and several medical vehicles raced to the scene.

Video from the scene shows chairs and other debris from the boat floating in the water.

The alarm was raised by another boat that saw passengers in the water, La Repubblica reports.

Seven ambulances, an air ambulance and 118 medical vehicles raced to the scene (Vigili del Fuoco/Twitter)

Lake Maggiore is the second-largest lake in Italy and a popular destination for British tourists.

The President of Lombardy Attilio Fontana said in a statement: "Unfortunately there is news of some missing people. A whirlwind caused a very serious accident.

"The firefighters of the Milan diving unit are at work on the spot together with the guard coast, to the air rescue and to the ambulances of Areu.

A view of the Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen's Island) on Lake Maggiore (AFP via Getty Images)

"I am following with apprehension the updates of the rescue teams on the spot which I thank ".

The whirlwind was part of a storm system that hit Lombardy Sunday evening, forcing delays at Milan's Malpensa airport.

Divers preparing for their search and rescue mission (VIGILI DEL FUOCO HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

According to local reports, the vessel was a "house-boat" and not a sailing ship as was originally reported.

The group of passengers had gone out onto the lake to celebrate a birthday in the afternoon, but the weather turned deadly as they approached close to Arona at around 7pm.

A pier stretching out into the lake at Lisanza (Alamy Stock Photo)

The ship couldn't stay afloat and tipped over, throwing everyone into the water.

Fourteen of them swam to nearby Piccaluga, where they were rescued by emergency responders waiting there.

Five of them were taken to hospital, three of them with minor injuries, and two in moderate condition.