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 in the morning in the stretch of sea in front of Porticello .

15 were rescued by coast guard patrol boats and firefighters and 7 are missing , one of whom has already been found dead.

The vessel is believed to have sunk due to the tornado that hit the area.

Firefighter divers have already dived to reach the hull, 49 meters deep, about half a mile from the coast. Carabinieri, 118 and civil protection are welcoming the survivors.

The vessel, "Bajesian", flies the English flag. On board were mostly British, but also a New Zealander, a Sri Lankan, two Anglo-French and an Irishman.

The firefighters' divers and the Coast Guard's military saved a one-year-old girl who was transported to the Children's Hospital in Palermo . Her parents were with her, hospitalized in two different facilities.

The search is underway for the missing, the cook who was part of the crew and then four British, a Canadian and two Americans.

(Unioneonline/vl)

© Riproduzione riservata