Six individuals, including prominent figures such as the chairman of a major international bank and a leading lawyer, are missing following the sinking of a luxury yacht during a storm off the coast of Sicily. The dramatic incident unfolded near Porticello, east of Palermo, as confirmed by local Civil Protection authorities.
The 56-meter yacht, Bayesian, had 22 people on board—comprising British, American, and Canadian nationals. While 15 were rescued, including a one-year-old girl, the body of the cook has been recovered. The yacht capsized early Monday morning due to a violent storm that generated waterspouts, leading to its tragic descent into the Mediterranean.
Rescue operations resumed on Tuesday morning, with divers focused on locating those still missing at a depth of 50 meters. Witnesses reported that the yacht’s anchor was deployed when the storm hit, resulting in a catastrophic loss of stability.
The British-flagged vessel faced calamity just 700 meters from the shore, with surviving family members recounting harrowing tales of their struggle against the raging sea. A local mother described the moment of the sinking as “the end of the world,” and managed to keep her infant daughter above water despite the overwhelming waves.
The yacht’s registered owner is a company based in the Isle of Man, while its name pays homage to a statistical theory integral to the background of one of the missing passengers, a notable tech entrepreneur. The law firm representing him confirmed that he had recently been acquitted of serious charges in a high-profile legal case.
In the wake of the incident, several survivors remain hospitalized, and the UK Foreign Office is providing support to the families affected by this tragedy. An investigative team is set to assess the circumstances surrounding the yacht’s sinking, aiming to uncover the details of this maritime disaster.
