A tragic story has unfolded off the coast of Sicily, where a powerful storm led to the capsizing of a luxury yacht, leaving one person dead and six others, including British and American tourists, still missing. The 180-foot yacht, named the Bayesian, was anchored near Porticello when a sudden tornado struck in the early hours of the morning, turning what should have been a peaceful holiday into a nightmare.
At around 5 a.m., the storm hit with such ferocity that it broke the yacht’s massive mast, causing the vessel to capsize. The Bayesian, which boasts the second tallest mast in the world, was no match for the freak weather conditions that suddenly swept through the area. Of the 22 people onboard, 15 were rescued by a nearby vessel, including a one-year-old baby girl and her mother. Sadly, six others are still unaccounted for, and the search for them is ongoing.
The passengers on the yacht were mainly British, but reports indicate that citizens from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Canada, the U.S., and dual British-French nationals were also onboard. It is feared that those still missing may have been trapped inside their cabins when the yacht capsized.
A significant rescue operation is underway, with helicopters, coastguard vessels, and expert divers all working tirelessly to locate the missing passengers. The divers have already reached the hull of the sunken yacht, which lies 49 meters below the water’s surface, about half a mile from the coast. Despite the extensive efforts, hopes are fading as time passes.
The yacht, which was sailing under a British flag, had been anchored near Porticello after making a stop in Milazzo, further up the coast. Witnesses reported seeing the yacht lit up just hours before the storm hit, with many describing it as a “normal holiday” that quickly turned into a tragedy. Local fisherman Fabio Cefalù was one of the first to spot the wreckage and call for help, but by the time he arrived at the scene, all that was left were remnants of the boat floating in the sea.
The victims of this disaster are still being identified, but among those missing are four British citizens, two Americans, and one Canadian. The only crew member unaccounted for is said to be the yacht’s cook. The surviving passengers, including the yacht’s captain, are now receiving medical treatment and will soon be interviewed by authorities to piece together what happened during those fateful moments.
The Bayesian, managed by Camper and Nicholsons International, was a luxury vessel with a gross tonnage of 473 tons and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Built in 2008 and refitted in 2020, the yacht was designed for opulent travel, with six cabins and a deck area of 436 square meters.
This incident has shocked the local community and the broader public, especially given the rarity of such extreme weather in that region. CCTV footage from around 4 a.m. shows the destructive power of the storm as it tore through Santa Nicolicchia, a nearby area, sending tables, chairs, and plant pots flying. Local businesses, though reopening later in the morning, reported that they had never seen anything like it.
The British Foreign Office has issued a statement confirming they are in contact with local authorities and are prepared to provide support to British nationals affected by this tragedy. Meanwhile, Alicia Kearns, Shadow Foreign Minister for Europe, expressed her condolences and called for support for the victims and their families.
