ROME: At least three people died, and one went missing after a boat carrying more than 20 passengers, including tourists, sank in strong winds on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, local media reported.
According to BBC News, the boat overturned on Sunday evening between the towns of Sesto Calende and Arona, according to Italian media. Italy’s fire service said 19 people were safe but their search continued for those reported missing.
Five people were taken to hospital after being rescued. Unconfirmed reports in Italian media said the boat’s passengers were Italian, British and Israeli. Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy region, said the “very serious incident” was due to bad weather. The boat was 16m-long and had been hired by tourists, he said on Facebook.
Everyone onboard entered the lake, but several passengers swam ashore or were rescued by other boats. Italian Rescue divers and a helicopter scrambled to help with the search at the lake’s southern end, and many 6 ambulances and an air ambulance attended the scene.
