Authorities investigating the tragic sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, have initiated a manslaughter investigation.
Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese in Sicily, announced at a press conference on Saturday, “We have opened a case against unknown individuals under the suspicion of negligent manslaughter related to the shipwreck.” He emphasized that the investigation is being conducted with the utmost confidentiality, as required by law.
Cartosio also mentioned that while the ship’s captain survived the incident, he is not currently in custody. However, the captain has been asked to remain in Sicily to be available for further questioning.
Investigators have indicated that the ship was likely struck by a downburst—a powerful wind phenomenon originating from a thunderstorm, with speeds reaching up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) per hour—rather than a waterspout, as initially suspected by authorities and some experts.
The press conference followed the recovery of the last missing passenger, Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch. Her body was found on Friday in the ship’s hull, a day after the body of her father, the yacht’s owner, was recovered.
Other victims, as reported by the Italian news agency Adnkronos, include Jonathan Bloomer, the president of Morgan Stanley International; his wife, Anne Elizabeth; American lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Nada, who were all found inside the sunken yacht. The body of the yacht’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was discovered underwater near the hull on Monday, but outside of it. An official list of the survivors and victims has yet to be released.
Divers undertook a challenging and hazardous five-day recovery operation to locate and retrieve the missing passengers from the wreck.
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In the immediate aftermath of the sinking, which occurred early Monday approximately half a mile from the fishing village of Porticello near Palermo, fifteen individuals—believed to be the crew, the captain, and five passengers—were rescued.
