Shipwreck after party

Sailboat sinks off Palermo – seven missing

15 people were rescued by patrol boats of the coast guard and the fire department.(Bild: Iurii - stock.adobe.com)

A sailing boat sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily on Monday, seven people are missing and one person has died. The 50-metre-long vessel, which was carrying 22 people, sank in the sea off Porticello near Palermo at around 5 am. 

On board the luxury yacht "Bayesan", which was sailing with a British flame, were mainly Britons, a New Zealander, a man from Sri Lanka, two Anglo-Frenchmen and an Irishman.

Fire divers rescued a one-year-old boy who was taken to the children's hospital in Palermo. The survivors received medical treatment and one person died.

Storm broke out during the party
According to witnesses, the yacht was not far from Porticello harbor when the violent storm broke out. A party had been organized on board, which lasted well into the night. It is assumed that the seven missing people were in the cabins and were unable to get to safety in time. A boat that was close to the "Bayesian" provided first aid to the survivors.

The wreck is currently lying on the seabed at a depth of 49 meters. The search for the missing persons is underway with diving units and helicopters.