Sicily, Italy — A luxury yacht, the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Palermo, Sicily, after being struck by an unexpected and violent storm early Monday, leaving six people missing, including a Canadian national. The yacht, registered in the United Kingdom, was carrying 22 people when it capsized near the port of Porticello.
The Italian Coast Guard reported that one person has died, and search efforts are ongoing for the six missing individuals, who include British, American, and Canadian nationals. The Bayesian was last tracked on Sunday evening near Palermo, after departing from the Sicilian port of Milazzo on August 14.
Survivors described the storm as intense and sudden. Karsten Borner, captain of a nearby vessel, recounted how he kept his boat stable during the storm and later discovered the wrecked yacht was missing. His crew rescued several survivors from a life raft, three of whom were seriously injured.
The yacht, built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008, belonged to British tech magnate Mike Lynch, who is among the missing. Lynch, known for founding the software company Autonomy, was recently acquitted in a high-profile fraud case in the United States. His wife, Angela Bacares, was among those rescued.
The Bayesian was found at a depth of 49 meters, and divers are inspecting the wreckage as Italian authorities investigate the incident. The region has been experiencing severe weather, with storms and heavy rainfall causing widespread damage across Italy.