This morning's dawn was tinged with drama in the stretch of sea off Porticello, off the coast of Palermo, where a sailing boat, the "Bajesian," suddenly sank, swallowing seven people into its dark belly.
The rescue operations, which began immediately, intensified in the following hours, with the use of patrol boats, divers and a fire brigade helicopter that continuously scanned the large search area.
The vessel, flying the English flag, now lies at 49 metres depth, a silent witness to a tragedy that has shocked the local community and the families of the missing.
15 were rescued by coast guard patrol boats and firefighters. Seven are currently missing.
The vessel, which flew the British flag and had on board mostly British people, but also a New Zealander, a Sri Lankan citizen, two Anglo-French and an Irishman, is believed to have sunk due to a tornado that hit the area.
itaAmong the victims, in addition to the chef, there are four British citizens, a Canadian and two Americans, a heterogeneous group linked by a single passion: the sea.
The Port Authority, coordinating the complex search and rescue operations, has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the sinking . Adverse weather conditions, with rough seas and strong gusts of wind, may have played a decisive role in this dramatic event.
Meanwhile, the captain of the boat, deeply shocked by what happened, was interviewed by investigators. His story, still fragmentary and confused, could provide crucial elements to reconstruct the dynamics of the accident.
The entire community of Porticello and the rescuers are living hours of anguish and hope, while the searches continue incessantly. With each passing minute the concern for the fate of the missing and the determination to find them increases.
