Tragedy in Sicily: tornado claimed the life of one person, six missing on a yacht
20 august 2024 в 04:02
A destructive tornado recently hit Sicily, leading to the death of one person and the disappearance of six out of the 22 people on board a 56-meter luxury yacht.
The storm struck early in the morning on Monday, August 19, around 5 a.m., as reported by a representative of the Italian coast. A group on the yacht, including British and American passengers, found themselves in distress. Among the missing is British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch, often referred to as the «Bill Gates of Britain», - who was recently acquitted of fraud charges by a court in June. There is concern that the missing passengers may be trapped inside the yacht’s hull, increasing the urgency of the search.
The yacht, named «Bayesian», - was anchored about a mile from the port of Porticello when the tornado hit. Rescue teams quickly responded, saving 15 people, eight of whom were hospitalized. Unfortunately, the search for the missing six continues.
According to the European Weather Service database, the tornado was caused by a waterspout, described as «a vortex typically ranging from a few meters to several kilometers in diameter, extending between a convective cloud and the Earth’s surface, which may be visible due to the raised water surface».
One of the survivors, Charlotte, shared her harrowing experience on board, describing how she fought to save her one-year-old daughter. As reported by CNN, she told ANSA: «In two seconds I lost my child in the sea, then immediately grabbed her again amidst the raging waves. I held her tightly while the sea was rough… Many were screaming».
Pietro Asciutto, a fisherman who witnessed the yacht sinking, shared his story with the media. «I was at home when the tornado hit. I immediately closed all the windows», - he said. He continued, «Then I saw the boat — it had only one mast, and it was very big. I saw it suddenly sink… The boat was still floating, and then it suddenly disappeared».
This tragedy has shaken the island, and rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities search for the missing passengers
The storm struck early in the morning on Monday, August 19, around 5 a.m., as reported by a representative of the Italian coast. A group on the yacht, including British and American passengers, found themselves in distress. Among the missing is British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch, often referred to as the «Bill Gates of Britain», - who was recently acquitted of fraud charges by a court in June. There is concern that the missing passengers may be trapped inside the yacht’s hull, increasing the urgency of the search.
The yacht, named «Bayesian», - was anchored about a mile from the port of Porticello when the tornado hit. Rescue teams quickly responded, saving 15 people, eight of whom were hospitalized. Unfortunately, the search for the missing six continues.
According to the European Weather Service database, the tornado was caused by a waterspout, described as «a vortex typically ranging from a few meters to several kilometers in diameter, extending between a convective cloud and the Earth’s surface, which may be visible due to the raised water surface».
One of the survivors, Charlotte, shared her harrowing experience on board, describing how she fought to save her one-year-old daughter. As reported by CNN, she told ANSA: «In two seconds I lost my child in the sea, then immediately grabbed her again amidst the raging waves. I held her tightly while the sea was rough… Many were screaming».
Pietro Asciutto, a fisherman who witnessed the yacht sinking, shared his story with the media. «I was at home when the tornado hit. I immediately closed all the windows», - he said. He continued, «Then I saw the boat — it had only one mast, and it was very big. I saw it suddenly sink… The boat was still floating, and then it suddenly disappeared».
This tragedy has shaken the island, and rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities search for the missing passengers
© Artemenko Olga
