Tourist boat sinks on Lake Maggiore killing four – reports

A tragic incident occurred on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy, where a boat carrying over 20 passengers, including tourists, sank in strong winds. The boat overturned between the towns of Sesto Calende and Arona on Sunday evening. Regrettably, four individuals lost their lives in the incident.

Reports suggest that the passengers on the boat were of British, Italian, and Israeli nationalities, although this has not been confirmed. Five survivors were rescued and taken to the hospital for medical attention. Attilio Fontana, the president of the Lombardy region, attributed the incident to severe weather conditions.

The boat, which had been hired by tourists, was approximately 16 meters (52 feet) long. It had been carrying passengers who were celebrating a birthday when a storm developed, eventually intensifying into a “small hurricane.” The boat capsized and sank shortly thereafter. Many of the passengers managed to swim ashore or were rescued by other boats.

The authorities deployed rescue divers, a helicopter, and emergency medical services to the scene. Lake Maggiore, a popular tourist destination shared by Italy and Switzerland, has experienced adverse weather conditions recently, including thunderstorms as warned by Italy’s meteorological service.

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