The rescue teams coordinating emergency operations off Sicily have confirmed a new development in the luxury sailboat tragedy from earlier this week. On Wednesday, two of the six passengers still reported missing were found dead inside a cabin, trapped between two mattresses. Officials appeared to confirm the discovery, noting the bodies were recovered from a cabin located below deck, where conditions inside the vessel were hazardous and searchers had to navigate through cramped spaces to reach them. The confirmation came through statements given to the media by regional authorities and the Civil Protection Agency of Sicily. [BBC, reporting on Italian Civil Protection details]
The fateful yacht sank off the coast near Palermo and now lies at a depth of about 50 meters. The depth has significantly complicated the underwater search, limiting the effectiveness of surface recovery methods and demanding more specialized diving operations and remotely operated equipment. On-site teams have relied on naval drones and other remote assets to advance the salvage and recovery effort, especially as the clock ticks with the remaining six listed as missing, numbering a total of twenty-two people who were aboard at the time of the accident. [Italian Civil Protection updates]
Among those missing are a prominent British magnate and several high-profile financial executives. The missing include a person identified in public reports as the son of a noted businessman, while a separate member of the party, the wife and owner of the vessel, is among the fifteen individuals who survived the disaster. The survivors were transported to safety and assessed by medical crews, with officials emphasizing that the situation remains volatile and that rescue teams will continue the search as sea conditions permit. [UK press coverage and official briefings]
Earlier in the operation, authorities confirmed the recovery of one crew member shortly after the vessel sank. The cook aboard the yacht was located within hours of the sinking, and his body was recovered as part of the ongoing effort to account for all of those aboard. The search operation has been ongoing since the incident, with divers inspecting the wreck, which is scattered with debris and personal belongings that indicate the scale of the loss and the chaos that followed the vessel’s rapid descent. [Rescue mission reports]
As the investigation unfolds, investigators are examining the vessel’s voyage records, weather data, and crew statements to determine the sequence of events that led to the tragedy. Officials stress that the safety protocols on private luxury vessels are under scrutiny, and maritime authorities in Italy are coordinating with international partners to review certification, maintenance records, and crew qualifications. The broader aim is to understand factors that contributed to the loss and to prevent similar incidents in coastal waters used by private yachts for leisure and corporate travel. [Maritime safety authorities statements]