Sailboat with Foreign Tourists Capsizes Off Sicily Amid Fierce Storm

A sailboat carrying foreign tourists capsized off Sicily during a severe storm, resulting in seven people missing. Fifteen individuals were rescued. The boat, named 'Bajesian,' had set sail from Porticello. Rescue operations involving helicopters and boats are ongoing.

A sailboat carrying foreign tourists capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday, amid severe weather conditions.

Authorities reported that fifteen people were rescued from the 49-metre vessel, while seven remain missing, according to Luca Cari, spokesperson for the Italian fire rescue service. Helicopter and boat rescue teams are actively searching for the missing individuals after the boat capsized around 5 am near Palermo.

Local media highlighted that the region endured a fierce storm overnight, with water spouts severely affecting the area. Il Giornale de Sicilia indicated that the sailboat, flying a British flag, carried mostly British passengers, along with individuals from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, and British-French citizens. Reports from ANSA identified the boat as ‘Bajesian,’ which had departed from Porticello on Sunday evening.