A tech tycoon with ties to Ireland is among those missing after a superyacht sank during a sudden storm off the coast of Sicily.
The 56-metre-long luxury yacht capsized off Porticello, east of Palermo, as a result of violent winds and rain.
The six missing people from the wreckage were of British, American and Canadian nationality, the coast guard has since confirmed.
British technology tycoon Mike Lynch is reportedly among those missing, with Mr Lynch having been born to a Co Tipperary mother who was a nurse and a Co Cork father who was a firefighter.
The wreckage comes just months after Mr Lynch was cleared of charges alleging he orchestrated a fraud when negotiating the sale of software company Autonomy to Hewlett Packard.
Among the 15 survivors were an Irish national, two people with joint French and British nationalities, a Sri Lankan, and a New Zealander, local media has reported.
Speaking to ANSA news agency, a British survivor spoke of the terrifying ordeal.
‘It was terrible. The boat was hit by really strong wind and shortly after it went down,’ she recalled.
Discussing the moment she thought she had lost her young daughter, she added; ‘For two seconds I lost her in the sea, then I grabbed her again. I held her tightly to me, while the sea raged. Lots of people were screaming.’
The Bayesian, flying the British flag, had 22 people aboard, including ten crew members, the coast guard said. The vessel was a luxury superyacht built by the Italian shipbuilding firm Perini Navi in 2008.
Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs said it is aware of the incident and is providing consular assistance.