Rescue teams in Sicily are preparing to continue their search for six people still missing after a luxury yacht was struck by a violent storm and sank on Monday.
Among those unaccounted for are British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter. The tragic incident has already claimed the life of one person.
The British-flagged yacht, named "Bayesian," was a 56-meter (184-foot) sailboat carrying 22 people when it was anchored near the port of Porticello. The vessel was hit by severe weather, leading to its sinking.
Notable figures among the missing include Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer from Clifford Chance who had previously represented Lynch in a lengthy U.S. trial. Both men's wives are also among those missing, according to Salvatore Cocina, head of Civil Protection in Sicily.
Specialist divers reached the sunken yacht on Monday, located at a depth of approximately 50 meters. However, their access to the wreck was hindered by debris and other obstacles, making the search and rescue operation challenging.
Fifteen people managed to escape before the yacht went down, including Mike Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who owned the yacht, and a one-year-old girl. Sadly, the body of the yacht’s onboard chef, identified as Ricardo Thomas from Antigua, was recovered by rescue teams on Monday.
The search continues as authorities hope to locate the missing individuals. Photo by Marek Wikipedista, Wikimedia commons.