Tragic Shipwreck off Sicilian Coast Leaves 7 Missing

A sailboat flying a British flag sank off the coast of Palermo, Sicily, leaving seven people missing. The Italian Coast Guard rescued 15 people, including a child. The boat went down due to a whirlwind and rough seas. Divers are continuing their search for the missing individuals.

A British-flagged sailboat carrying 22 people sank off the coast of Palermo, Sicily, early Monday morning, leaving seven individuals missing. Italian media outlets report that Italy's Coast Guard and firefighters successfully rescued 15 people, including a child, from the stricken vessel.

The sailboat, which faced a whirlwind and rough seas at sunrise, was carrying a diverse group of passengers, including two Anglo-French citizens, an Irish national, a New Zealander, and a Sri Lankan. The remaining passengers were British. All 15 rescued individuals are currently in stable condition, according to news agency Adnkronos.

Divers from the fire department are actively searching the area around the wreck, which now rests at a depth of about 50 meters and half a mile off the coast. The British foreign ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment on the incident.