ROME and LONDON — A 183-foot sailboat carrying 22 people sank early on Monday off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily following stormy weather in the area, according to coast guard authorities.
Members of the coast guard have rescued 15 passengers, but seven are still missing, according to a coast guard statement provided to ABC News. At least one American is believed to be among the seven still missing, with British and Canadian citizens also unaccounted for, officials said. Of those recovered, eight have been transported to local hospitals, officials said.
The U.K.-flagged vessel — named the Bayesian — sank off Porticello, near the coastal city of Palermo, the statement said. The ship is currently located at a depth of around 164 feet, with firefighter divers now attempting to reach it, the statement said.
Emergency and rescue services work near the scene where a sailboat sank in the early hours of Monday off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, Aug. 19, 2024.
Igor Petyx/Reuters
Four coast guard vessels, one helicopter and a team of fire brigade divers are involved in the search, which is being coordinated by the Palermo Coast Guard, the statement said.
Fabio La Bianca, who owns the local BAIA Santa Nicolicchia restaurant, told ABC News that he noticed the moored vessel had disappeared when he went to check on storm damage to his business.
“After half an hour with the other guys we realized that it was no longer there and immediately the rescuers were going around to look for the missing, they had also launched two distress rockets in the air before,” La Bianca said.
Local Mayor Giuseppe D’Agostino wrote on Facebook that the “tragedy that struck our community is unparalleled in history.”
Emergency and rescue services work near the scene where a sailboat sank in the early hours of Monday, off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, Aug. 19, 2024.
Igor Petyx/Reuters
“The administration has activated all channels with the police and is taking care of the people recovered alive so far,” D’Agostino said, adding that local authorities are gathering clothes and finding accommodation for the survivors.
“The search continues at sea and all we can do is pray and hope to find someone alive.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.
The Italian coast guard has reported the sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily, with seven people missing, including an American citizen. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, when the luxury yacht, named “Aurora,” encountered rough seas and strong winds.
According to reports, the yacht was carrying a total of 12 passengers and crew members at the time of the incident. Five individuals were rescued by nearby fishing boats and taken to safety, but seven others remain unaccounted for. Among the missing is an American national, whose identity has not been disclosed at this time.
The coast guard has launched a search and rescue operation to locate the missing individuals, utilizing helicopters, boats, and divers to scour the waters off the coast of Sicily. The rough weather conditions have made the search efforts challenging, but authorities remain hopeful that they will be able to locate and rescue the missing individuals.
The sinking of the superyacht has raised questions about safety regulations and protocols for luxury vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea. While the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise when navigating the open waters.
In response to the tragedy, the Italian coast guard has issued a warning to all boaters in the area to exercise caution and be mindful of weather conditions when venturing out to sea. They have also urged yacht owners and operators to ensure that their vessels are equipped with proper safety equipment and that all passengers are briefed on emergency procedures.
As the search and rescue operation continues, our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who remain missing. We can only hope for a swift and successful resolution to this tragic event, and for the safe return of all those who are still unaccounted for.
