Yacht Tragedy Off Sicily: One Dead and Several Missing After Storm

A tragic maritime incident occurred off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning when a luxury yacht sank during a severe storm. The 56-meter (183-foot) vessel, known as Bayesian, was carrying 22 people, including 10 crew members and 12 passengers from the UK, USA, and Canada.

The storm, which struck overnight, brought intense weather conditions, including waterspouts—rotating columns of air similar to tornadoes but over water. Witnesses reported that the yacht’s anchor was deployed at the time, which, combined with the powerful storm, caused the mast to snap and the vessel to lose stability before sinking.

Of the 22 aboard, 15 people were rescued by emergency services, including a one-year-old British girl who was taken to a hospital but is reported to be in stable condition. The search and rescue operations revealed a wreckage 50 meters underwater. So far, the body of one man has been recovered near the wreckage, but his nationality has not yet been confirmed.

British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch is reported missing,  The Dutch-flagged vessel nearby played a crucial role in the rescue operations, saving survivors from the sea and providing immediate care until official emergency services arrived. According to Captain Karsten Borner, the crew noticed the yacht behind them had vanished and, upon investigating, found a life raft with 15 survivors, three of whom were severely injured.

Local fishermen also played a role in the rescue, spotting debris and survivors. Footage from the scene showed coastguard vessels and helicopters involved in the search efforts.

The storm affecting the western Mediterranean since last week intensified over the north coast of Sicily. Waterspouts, which are tornadoes occurring over water, develop from intense thunderstorms and create powerful winds and water mist.

The UK Foreign Office is in touch with local authorities, and the yacht’s management company, Camper and Nicholsons International, has pledged to assist in the ongoing search and support the survivors.

As the search continues, the focus remains on locating the missing individuals and providing aid to those affected by this tragic event.