Divers have recovered two more bodies from the wreckage of a luxury superyacht that sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm.
This discovery has brought the confirmed death toll to three, with three others still missing. Among the missing are UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch and Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the tragedy unfolded when the 49-meter (160ft) yacht, reportedly named “Bayesian,” was anchored near the Porticello port at around 5 am local time on Monday.The yacht, flying a British flag and carrying a mix of international passengers, was struck by a tornado that transformed what appeared to be a serene vacation into a nightmare.
Salvo Cocina, head of the Civil Protection of Sicily, confirmed that divers had seen “corpses through the portholes” of the sunken yacht, highlighting the grim reality of the situation. Earlier reports indicated that a man’s body was discovered near the wreck by divers, adding to the growing death toll.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with specialist divers from across Italy, including Napoli, Cagliari, and Sassari, participating in the search. The rescue teams, supported by helicopters and coastguard vessels, face challenging conditions as the yacht lies approximately 50 meters underwater.
The yacht’s journey began from the port of Milazzo last Wednesday and was last tracked east of Palermo the night before the disaster. Despite a forecast warning of severe weather, there was no indication of a tornado. Maritime Search and Rescue Council chair Matthew Schanck commented, “There was nothing that was too concerning from my eye, so all in all, the captain, using the information that he had, made what he or she deems to be a safe call.”
Camper & Nicholsons International, the yacht’s management company, confirmed the vessel sank near Palermo due to “severe weather.” They emphasized that their priority is assisting with the search and providing support to the rescued passengers and crew.
