Four dead after a boat sinks on Itlay’s Lake Maggiore

Four people killed after a boat carrying around 20 passengers, including visitors, sank in strong winds on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy.

Italian press says that the craft overturned Sunday night between the towns of Sesto Calende and Arona.

Boat carrying passengers overturned on Lake Maggiore: 

Five people were rushed to hospital after being saved. Unconfirmed news in the Italian press says the boat’s passengers were British, Italian and Israeli.

Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy area, said the “severe incident” was due to poor climate. The boat was 16m (52ft) in length and had been hired by visitors, he wrote on Facebook.

According to Italian media outlets, the boat had been carrying approximately 25 people who were celebrating a birthday when a storm formed over the lake, later turning into a “small storm”. The boat overturned and sank soon after that.

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Everyone onboard entered the water, but multiple passengers swam ashore or were saved by other crafts.

Rescue divers and a chopper ran to help with the search at the lake’s southern end, and some ambulances and an air ambulance were at the scene.

A video posted by firefighters showed chairs and other remains sailing in choppy waters.

Lake Maggiore – on the south flank of the Alps – is shared by Italy and Switzerland and is a famous place for tourists. The site has seen bad weather over the last day, with Italy’s meteorological service giving thunderstorm alerts.