Around 5 a.m. on August 19, a tornado hit a luxury yacht, causing it to sink off the coast of Sicily. Twenty-two people were onboard, and six people have been declared missing, including two Americans. So far, only one person has been declared dead. The search is ongoing.
Of the people who were found alive, there was one child who sustained injuries and had to be airlifted to a hospital in Palermo. Her mother was also taken to Palermo, where they were reunited, after several terrifying moments in the sea.
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The child who was rescued was just a toddler.
The child onboard is a 1-year-old British girl named Sophia. Her mom, Charlotte, fought to keep her safe and close during the storm.
"In two seconds I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves. I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy," she told journalists, reported Sicilian news agency ANSA, per CNN. "Many were screaming."
Sophia was taken to Children's Hospital of Palermo, where she and her mother were reunited.
The yacht was caught in something called a 'waterspout.'
The 183-foot yacht known as Bayesian, which was flying the British flag, was struck by a tornado over the water. The waterspout, as it's called, is one of several types of tornadoes. It developed over the area where the yacht was anchored early Monday morning.
According to CNN, the weather forecast had warned that storms and potential strong winds across the entire southern region of Italy were expected for Sunday.
Several people recalled seeing the boat in danger.
"I was at home when the tornado hit. I immediately closed all the windows," fisherman Pietro Asciutto, who witnessed the sinking from his home, said, according to ANSA. "Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, it was very large. I saw it sink suddenly … The boat was still floating, then suddenly it disappeared."
Reuters reported another fisherman started the engine of his boat to avoid crashing into the yacht, per CNN. "This morning we got this strong gust and we had to start the engine to keep the ship in an angled position," he said. "After the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone."
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Currently, six people are still missing, and one is confirmed dead.
Multiple outlets have reported that currently there are six people missing — four Britons and two Americans. Fire and water rescue teams are still searching for them. Local outlet Palermo Today reported that the six missing people may be trapped inside the hull of the yacht, which makes searches more urgent. The person who was found dead has been identified as the boat's Canadian cook. The yacht's captain is among those who were rescued.
