A tragic incident occurred off the coast of Sicily early Monday as a luxury superyacht sailboat carrying foreign tourists capsized and sank in bad weather conditions. The British-flagged, 56-meter (184-foot) yacht named 'Bayesian' was manned by a crew of 10 individuals and had 12 passengers on board, hailing from British, American, and Canadian nationalities.
Authorities reported that 15 individuals were initially rescued and brought to shore at Porticello, with eight of them requiring medical attention at local hospitals. Regrettably, one body was recovered near the wreck, while six others remained unaccounted for.
Search and rescue efforts were promptly launched, involving a helicopter and various rescue boats from the coast guard, carabinieri, fire rescue, and civil protection service. The wreck of the yacht was located at a depth of 50 meters (163 feet) following the capsizing around 5 a.m. near the port of Porticello.
Specialized deep-water divers were en route to the scene to assist in accessing the hull of the sunken vessel in hopes of locating the missing individuals. Among those still missing were one crew member and six passengers, as confirmed by the coast guard.
Reports indicated that the area had been hit by a severe storm, including water spouts, overnight. However, conditions had improved by Monday morning, with clear skies and calm seas prevailing. The 'Bayesian,' constructed in 2008 by the renowned Italian firm Perini Navi, had been anchored off the port at Porticello prior to the tragic incident.
