Four British nationals and two Americans are among at least seven people missing after a 180ft yacht sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of this morning, Italian media reports.
Fifteen of the 22 people on board, including a one-year-old child and its mother, were rescued by coast guard patrol boats and firefighters.
The passengers were mainly British, according to reports, while citizens from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Canada, the US and two dual British and French nationals were also said to be on board.
The group are reported to have been tourists on holiday in Sicily, and the boat sailed under a British flag.
The vessel is believed to have taken on water after a tornado hit the area off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, at around 5am.
A local Facebook group shared a picture of the yacht (left) at anchor last night. The vessel has been named as the Bayesian, and is said to sail under a British flag
The vessel has been named as the Bayesian, and a local Facebook group shared a picture of the yacht at anchor last night before the storm rolled in.
Expert divers have already dived to reach the hull, 49 metres below the water and about half a mile from the coast, according to Italian media.
Nautical maps show the last known location of the Bayesian just after 2am local time, when it was at anchor.
The only crewmember among the missing is said to be the cook, with those still unaccounted for including British, American and one Canadian citizen, RAI reports.
The captain is said to be very upset by what has happened and is set to speak to authorities this morning.
The baby who was rescued was reportedly taken to the Children’s Hospital of Palermo, and arrived there with his mother.
Both are said to be fine, with the mother sustaining only minor injuries and the child undergoing tests as a precaution.
Sicily is currently under a weather warning for wind, with video showing strong gusts battering the coast this morning.
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