Sicily, Italy,19.08.2024 – A desperate search is underway for six people, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, after a luxury yacht was struck by a tornado and sank off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning. The disaster claimed the life of one of the 22 people on board.
The vessel, named the “Bayesian,” was anchored about half a mile from the Port of Porticello when it was hit by a powerful tornado at approximately 5 a.m., according to a spokesperson for Italy’s Coast Guard. The yacht, which flies under a British flag, was carrying mostly British passengers, along with a few from other nationalities, including two Americans.
Mike Lynch, the founder of software giant Autonomy, was among the passengers on the yacht. His wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued, but Lynch remains missing, according to a source who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity. The source was not authorized to speak to the media.
Rescue teams, including divers from the Italian fire brigade, are combing the area for survivors and have reached the yacht’s hull, which rests 49 meters (160 feet) below sea level. Helicopters have also been dispatched to assist with the search operation.
Fifteen individuals were rescued from the scene, with one child airlifted to a children’s hospital in Palermo. Eight people were hospitalized, according to local officials. The Coast Guard confirmed that one body was found on the hull of the yacht.
Charlotte, a 35-year-old survivor, recounted the terrifying moments when she struggled to keep her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, safe amid the chaos. “In two seconds, I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves. I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy,” she told Italian news agency ANSA. “Many were screaming.”
The tornado, identified as a waterspout by the European Severe Weather Database, formed over the area as severe storms hit Sicily. The storms had been predicted, with weather forecasts warning of strong winds across southern Italy. Torrential rainfall had already caused significant flooding in the region, with more than 4 inches (100 mm) of rain falling in Brolo, east of Palermo, in less than four hours.
The captain of the Bayesian is among the survivors. A nearby boat captain described how he had to start his engine to avoid colliding with the yacht during the storm. “This morning, we got this strong gust, and we had to start the engine to keep the ship in an angled position,” he told reporters. “After the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone.”
As rescue operations continue, the search for Mike Lynch and the other missing passengers remains a priority. The incident has shocked the local community and the tech world, where Lynch is a well-known figure.
Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the tornado but continue to monitor the region for any further weather-related incidents.
