50-metre sailboat with 22 people on board sank in the early hours of Monday off the coast of the Sicilian city of Palermo The boat, flying a British flag, sank when a whirlwind and rough seas hit the area at sunrise Irish national among the 22 on board Italy's Coast Guard and firefighters rescued 15 people, including a child Six people are still missing Seven missing after sailboat carrying Irish nationals sinks in storm off Sicily One man died and six people were missing after a luxury yacht was struck by an unexpectedly violent storm and sank off the Sicilian capital Palermo, the Italian coast guard said on Monday. The 56-metre-long (184-ft) sailboat, which was British registered, sank with 22 people on board shortly before sunrise, the coast guard said in a statement. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.