2023-05-29 07:28:11
Four people – two men and two women – died after a pleasure boat capsized on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. According to the fire department, another 21 occupants were rescued after the ship capsized near the town of Lisanza at the southern end of the lake. Some inmates had to be taken to the hospital, nobody is in danger of death.
14 passengers were able to swim to shore, seven more were rescued by rescue workers. On board were among others English and Israelis. Local media reported that these were families who were friends who had rented the houseboat for a birthday party.
According to the President of the Region of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, the ship capsized because of a tornado. The 16 meter long boat had been rented by tourists, he said on Facebook. On board the boat were 23 tourists and two crew members.
Search and rescue operations continued throughout the night, despite difficult weather conditions. Late Sunday evening, a La Spezia Coast Guard helicopter equipped with infrared detectors also arrived at the scene.
Several fire engines were on the spot with divers and personnel and examined the shore in the direction of Lisanza, a district of Sesto Calende, from where the houseboat had set sail. The boat sank to a depth of 16 meters.
The Carabinieri collected the first testimonies of the survivors to find out whether and what was not done correctly. It is questionable whether the boat’s captain underestimated the bad weather conditions. The mayor of the municipality of Varese on Lake Maggiore, Giovanni Buzzi, said that there was no severe weather warning.
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