Search Underway for Missing Passengers After Tornado Sinks Luxury Yacht Near Sicily

Search and rescue efforts are underway after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, following a tornado that struck the vessel early Monday morning. Among the missing are British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and five others, including four Britons and two Americans.

The yacht, which was anchored near Porticello, was carrying 22 people when it was hit by the tornado, resulting in one death. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued, but the whereabouts of Lynch and the other missing passengers remain unknown.

The 56-meter yacht, known as the “Bayesian,” flew under a British flag and had a mix of passengers and crew from the UK, France, New Zealand, Ireland, and Sri Lanka. A spokesperson for the Italian Coast Guard reported that the tornado formed as a waterspout and caused the yacht to sink within moments.

Rescue teams, including divers from the Italian fire brigade, have been searching the area, with the wreckage of the yacht located 160 feet below the surface. Helicopters have also been dispatched to aid in the search.

Survivors of the disaster have shared their traumatic experiences. One woman, Charlotte, described how she struggled to keep hold of her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, during the violent storm. She managed to pull her daughter from the sea after losing grip briefly in the chaos of waves and wind.

Meanwhile, the yacht’s captain, who survived the ordeal, said that another nearby ship had to activate its engines to avoid colliding with the sinking vessel as fierce winds swept through the area.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident. The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is sending a team of inspectors to Sicily to conduct a preliminary assessment of the yacht.

This comes as weather reports indicate strong winds and storms affected southern Italy over the weekend, with some areas receiving significant rainfall in a short period. The search for the missing continues, with hopes of locating survivors or recovering remains.

Mike Lynch, one of the missing passengers, is a well-known figure in the technology world, having founded Autonomy, the UK’s largest software company at one time. Lynch has been involved in a long-running legal battle following the sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011.

Despite being acquitted of fraud in June, his legal challenges have persisted. The “Bayesian” yacht is registered under Revtom Limited, a company owned by Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, adding another layer of complexity to the tragic incident.