One person is dead and six more are missing after a luxury superyacht sank off the Sicilian coast early Monday. The Italian Coast Guard says 22 people were on board the British-flagged yacht, which had passengers from of Canadian, American and British nationalities aboard. 15 people were rescued initially and taken to shore at Porticello, where eight were in the hospital.
One body was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for, said Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Italian fire rescue service. A helicopter and rescue boats from the coast guard, carabinieri, fire rescue and civil protection service were at the scene searching for the missing and had located the wreck at a depth of 163 feet. The boat capsized around 5 a.
m. off the port of Porticello. Local media said a fierce storm, including water spouts, had battered the area overnight but skies were clear and seas calm by Monday morning.
The ANSA news agency said the yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, had been moored off the port at Porticello..
