Italian authorities have launched a manslaughter investigation into the sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily, which resulted in the death of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six others.
Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio announced the investigation, stating that the sinking was not due to the weather but rather the actions of the crew and the way the vessel was managed.
The probe is not targeting any specific individuals but is considering multiple possibilities, including the potential culpability of the captain, crew, or other personnel.
Cartosio revealed that the prosecutor’s office has filed a dossier for negligent shipwreck and manslaughter against unknown persons.
The British-flagged yacht, carrying 22 passengers and crew, sank on Monday after its mast, one of the tallest in the world, broke during a severe storm.
Seven bodies have been recovered by divers from depths of nearly 50 meters, including that of Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, found on Friday.
Other recovered bodies are believed to be those of Jonathan and Judy Bloomer, Chris and Neda Morvillo, and the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas.
While Italian authorities have confirmed the missing individuals, formal identification is pending a coroner’s report.
Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano suggested that the victims were likely asleep during the storm, which may have prevented their escape.
Although the exact cause of the yacht’s sinking remains uncertain, it is suspected that a waterspout, a type of tornado, struck the vessel.
The coast guard and European Severe Weather Database both reported a tornado in the area at the time of the incident.
