56-metre sailing yacht sinks off Sicily coast, seven missing

A 56-metre British-flagged sailing yacht has sunk off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily. 

The incident occurred around 5 AM local time today (19 August 2024). The Perini Navi-built vessel, identified as the sailing yacht Bayesian, capsized due to severe weather conditions, including reports of a tornado. 

The yacht was carrying 22 people, predominantly British nationals. Emergency services responded to the scene. As of the latest reports, 15 individuals have been rescued. Among those is a one-year-old child who has been taken to a nearby children’s hospital. 

According to La Sicilia, seven people are still unaccounted for, including the yacht’s chef, four British guests, a Canadian and two Americans. Rescue operations are ongoing, with divers already deployed to reach the submerged hull, which is reportedly resting at a depth of 49 metres, approximately half a mile from the coast. 

This is an unfolding story, with more details expected to emerge as search and rescue efforts continue.

Image courtesy of La Sicilia news (via Vigili del Fuoco)