Italy: Four dead in boat accident on Lake Maggiore

Status: 05/29/2023 10:15 a.m

A hurricane capsized a sailing boat on Lake Maggiore – four people died in the accident. Many of those affected were able to save themselves on land. Divers searched for fatalities all night.

A tourist boat has capsized on Lake Maggiore in Italy. According to the fire department, four people died in the accident near the town of Lisanza at the southern end of the lake. After a night’s search by divers, the last body was recovered early in the morning. According to media reports, the fatalities are two women and two men – three tourists and the wife of the boat owner.

The boat crashed on Sunday evening. A total of 23 tourists and crew members were on board when a sudden hurricane capsized the ship, the Ansa news agency reported.

The fire department said 19 people had been rescued. Many of those affected reportedly managed to swim ashore or were rescued by other boats.

Identify carabinieri

According to the President of the Region of Lombardy, Attilio Fontana, the 16-meter-long sailboat had been rented by tourists. The carabinieri are investigating the background to the accident, such as why the boat did not return to the port on time – there had already been severe weather warnings.

Lake Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy and is around 65 kilometers long. Its northernmost part is in Switzerland. The cyclone was part of a storm system that hit Lombardy on Sunday evening.

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