SEVEN people have reportedly gone missing after a 180ft yacht was hit by a tornado before sinking off the coast of Sicily overnight. Four British tourists are believed to be still unaccounted for as the Palermo port authority announced this morning they are "looking for people alive" as the hunt for survivors continues. Two US holidaymakers and a Canadian are also reportedly still missing, report Palermo Today .
A one-year-old child was rescued by coast guards on patrol boats and firefighters along with 15 others earlier today. Citizens from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and France were also onboard alongside the British nationals, say Italian media. The yacht is believed to have been flooded by water after a tornado struck off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, at around 5am on Monday morning.
read more in Italy The group are said to have been on holiday in Sicily. Do you have any information on the sinking yacht or those onboard? Email us at georgie.english@the-sun.
co.uk The yacht is believed to be called Bayesian and sails under a British flag, according to a Facebook post Sunday evening. It is said to have the second tallest mast in the world at a height of 246ft, say il Fatto Quotidiano .
Most read in The Sun An expert team of divers have already been able to locate the hull, according to Italian media. It was discovered 160ft below the water around half a mile from the coast. The baby, 1, was rushed to the nearby Children's Hospital of Palermo with its mother after they were found.
The captain of the vessel reported the ship as capsizing to authorities before rushing to get to safety. It comes just a week after a £1million yacht sank near Majorca with five people including a child onboard. Terrifying footage shows an entire half of the vessel submerging down into the sea off Camp de Mar in Andratx - promoting an urgent rescue mission with all five being rushed back to land safely.
Days earlier a luxury superyacht started to sink after a crew member left a door open - causing water to flood the interior. The 150ft vessel dubbed "Ethos" was carrying five wealthy tourists when it dramatically started tipping over as waves crashed into its side. Sat just off the coast of Kefalonia, Greece , in the Paleokaravo Bay, the £180,000-a-week yacht was sent to a watery grave after the huge blunder.
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