Four bodies have been found in the wreckage of a luxury yacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily.
Three body bags were seen being carried into Porticello harbour on Wednesday afternoon after the yacht sank at about 5am on Monday.
Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s civil defence agency, confirmed that two bodies had initially been found, followed by two more later in the afternoon.
He said an investigation would take place but the top priority remained finding the missing people.
Dozens of emergency workers stood by while three body bags were carried back to Porticello port, with one of them seen being loaded into the back of an ambulance.
The Italian coast guard has previously not ruled out the possibility that the missing, including tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, may still be alive, with experts speculating that an air bubble may have formed when the yacht sank.
Among those missing are Morgan Stanley International Bank Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy Bloomer, and Clifford Chance Bank attorney Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo.
An inspection of the yacht’s interior hull took place on Wednesday morning.
A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) also arrived in Porticello to inspect the scene of the wreck.
The yacht, the Baysian, was flying a British flag and it is understood the MAIB is investigating what happened.
The Italian coast guard said the MAIB was not involved in the search for the missing people and had not received a request for assistance.
Divers from the local fire brigade were seen wading into the water with torches attached to their headgear, and a helicopter was sent in to help with the search effort.
Police boats and divers were also seen in the water on Wednesday afternoon.
Firefighters from the Vigili del Fuoco said they were approaching the ship through a natural entrance without having to open the hull.
The Italian coast guard said the search was being carried out using remotely operated underwater vehicles and also involved naval units and cave divers.
The Baysian was anchored about half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank at about 5 a.m. local time on Monday after a storm hit the area.
Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian coast guard had previously said the missing tourists were feared dead.
Published date: August 21, 2024 RadioNewsHub
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