An urgent search has been launched after 22 people have gone missing when a sailing boat sunk off the coast of Palermo, southern Italy. The boat, named the Bajesan, experienced trouble after it was hit by a tornado while sailing near Porticello, a fishing village in Sicily. Four British people, a Canadian and two Americans are said to be among those missing along one crew member who is a cook.
The investigation is being conducted by the Port Authority. Emergency services have rescued 15 people, including a one-year-old child after the but coast guard patrols are continuing the desperate search for the others who were reportedly on board the vessel that got into difficulty around 5am this morning. It is understood that the boat sank during bad weather as a tornado hit Sicily.
Divers have already reached the hull, 49 meters deep, about half a mile from the coast. Survivors have been taken to Porticciolo. Follow our live blog below.
.. Mum and one-year-old rescued are fine - reports The mum and baby rescued after the tornado hit the boat have been taken to the Children's Hospital of Palermo, it has been reported.
The two are both said to be fine, with the child undergoing tests as a precaution and the mum sustaining only minor injuries. What we know so far According to initial reports, the vessel flies the English flag . On board there were mostly British, but also a New Zealander, a Sri Lankan citizen, two Anglo-French and an Irishman.
A helicopter is also looking for the vessel which is called "Bajesian" while the people who have been rescued are being cared for locally including the one-year-old child who has been taken to the Children's Hospital in Palermo. "Due to the bad weather that hit the Palermo area, a sailing boat of about 50 meters with 22 people on board sank around 5 am in the stretch of sea in front of Porticello in the province of Palermo. 15 were rescued by coast guard patrol boats and firefighters," stated the news agency ANSA.
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