A controversial tech tycoon is missing after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily
Business InsiderAug 23
One Dead, Six Missing After Superyacht Sinks off Italy's Coast
Above: An Italian Coast Guard helicopter on August 14, 2024. Image copyright: Fabrizio Villa/Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
One person has died, and six remain missing after a superyacht capsized near the Italian island of Sicily in the early hours of Monday. Among the missing are British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah.
The Italian Coast Guard said that the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged "Bayesian" yacht had carried 22 people—12 passengers and 10 crew members—of various nationalities.
The Spin
Narrative A
What was supposed to be an enjoyable vacation has ended in the most tragic of circumstances. The yacht was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Condolences go out to all the friends and relatives of those who lost their lives.
Narrative B
Days before the tragedy, storms and heavy rains slammed Italy, following weeks of blistering heat that raised the Mediterranean Sea temperature to record highs — increasing the likelihood of extreme weather. The surface temperature around Sicily was about 30°C (86°F), generating massive energy for storms.