One person has died and six others are missing after a sailing yacht sank off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning, according to the Italian fire and rescue service.
The 56-meter (183-foot) yacht, flying a British flag, had Britons among the missing, as reported by Italian media.
The vessel carried 22 people, including 10 crew members and 12 passengers, some of whom were American and Canadian nationals. Emergency services managed to rescue 15 individuals, including a one-year-old child.
Local reports indicate that the yacht sank after being hit by a severe storm overnight, which caused water spouts to form in the sea.
A wreck has been located at a depth of 50 meters, and divers are currently searching for the missing individuals.
The body of the confirmed deceased was found outside the wreckage, though his nationality has not yet been disclosed.
Eight of the rescued individuals are receiving treatment in hospital, according to the Italian coastguard.
Footage from the site shows helicopters hovering over several coastguard vessels as divers in bright orange suits descend into the water.
The western Mediterranean has experienced frequent severe storms since mid-last week due to low pressure systems. Intense storms passing over the north coast of Sicily on Sunday night and into Monday morning may have brought sudden winds and heavy rain.
The UK Foreign Office has stated it is aware of the incident and is in contact with local authorities.
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