Rescue operations for the six missing passengers from the Bayesian yacht, which sank off the coast of Sicily early Monday, are proving increasingly challenging due to harsh conditions and significant obstacles.
The yacht, which was carrying 22 people, encountered severe weather conditions leading to its tragic sinking. One person has been confirmed dead, and the search continues for the six individuals still unaccounted for.
According to Guy Thomas, a diving instructor and member of the Italian Red Cross’s special rescue team, “You have current, you have wind, you have waves, you have everything.” Thomas, though not directly involved in this rescue operation, noted that scattered debris is complicating the efforts. “There will be a lot of debris,” he explained, underscoring the difficulties faced by rescue crews.
Initial attempts by the Italian fire department’s divers to access the yacht were hindered by obstructing furniture and the vessel’s tilted position, which has created significant challenges in navigating the wreckage. Marco Tilotta, an inspector with the diving unit, described the situation, saying, “The hull’s tilt and the disarray inside the yacht have made it hard for our teams to gain access.”
The yacht sank rapidly, likely leaving the missing passengers trapped inside the vessel’s inner cabins. Vincenzo Zagarola, a spokesman for the Italian coastguard, stated, “We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out.”
Divers are limited to ten-minute intervals underwater due to the wreck’s depth, approximately 50 meters (164 feet) below the surface. Luca Cari, head of emergency communications for Italy’s fire and rescue department, emphasized the danger of decompression sickness, a condition resulting from rapid ascent.
The search operations are not only hazardous for the divers, who risk getting lost or running out of air, but time is also a critical factor. Thomas warned, “When the boat goes down, rescue divers are trying to find people alive in air bubbles. But most people will not be in an air bubble.”
Despite the relentless efforts, Zagarola remained cautious about the chances of finding survivors, noting, “Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.”
The search continues as Sicily reels from the tragedy, with authorities and rescue teams working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals.
