Seven lacking as yacht ‘carrying principally Brits’ sinks off Sicily

At least seven people are missing after a 160ft yacht which had 22 people on board sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of this morning, Italian media reports.

Fifteen people, including a one-year-old child, were rescued by coast guard patrol boats and firefighters.

The passengers were mainly British, according to news outlet il Fatto Quotidiano, while citizens from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and two dual British and French nationals were also on board.

The group are reported to have been tourists on holiday in Sicily, and the boat is believed to have 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

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.

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.