The boat had been rented by tourists. About 20 people were on board when she sank due to adverse weather conditions. Three people died and one is still missing.
It is a terrible accident that occurred due to unfavorable weather. A tourist boat carrying more than 20 people capsized on Sunday on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, killing three passengers. A fourth person remains missing at this stage, firefighters said Monday morning.
“The lifeless bodies of three people were recovered overnight. The search continues to find a fourth missing person,” the firefighters said on their Twitter account.
A helicopter and divers are mobilized to find this last missing person. The boat sank on Sunday evening between the towns of Sesto Calende and Arona, Italian media report.
“Whirlwind”, “little hurricane”
The president of the Lombardy region Attilio Fontana deplored a “very serious incident” caused by a “whirlwind”. Sunday evening, the emergency services had reported that 19 people were safe and sound.
The boat was carrying around 25 people celebrating a birthday when a storm formed on the lake, later turning into a “small hurricane”, reports the BBC, citing Italian media in particular.
During the sinking, all the passengers fell into the water. Most were able to swim to shore. Lake Maggiore, which lies in the southern Alps, is the second largest lake in Italy and a popular tourist destination.
Source: BFM TV
