Tragic Mystery at Sea: Yacht Sinks, Leaving Questions Unanswered

Search operations off the coast of Sicily continue for two bodies still missing from the sunken yacht belonging to the wife of British tech mogul Mike Lynch. Four bodies have been recovered so far. Despite top-notch safety features, the sudden sinking has led to an investigation into potential human error.

Search efforts off the coast of Sicily for two remaining bodies missing from the sunken yacht belonging to the wife of British tech magnate Mike Lynch were due to resume early on Thursday. On Wednesday, four bodies were retrieved and transported to hospitals in Palermo.

Unofficial sources suggested a fifth body might have been located late on Wednesday, but confirmation was pending from the fire brigade and coast guard overseeing the operations. While Italian authorities have not officially identified the corpses, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported that two of the dead were Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter. Corriere della Sera identified the other bodies as those of Morgan Stanley banker Jonathan Bloomer and U.S. lawyer Chris Morvillo.

The British-flagged Bayesian, a 56-meter-long superyacht carrying 22 passengers and crew, sank rapidly after a storm struck while anchored off Porticello. Fifteen people, including Lynch's wife, escaped, but the onboard chef, Recaldo Thomas, was found dead near the wreck hours later. Search operations are hindered by the challenging underwater conditions.

Naval marine experts are baffled as the Bayesian, built by Italian manufacturer Perini and known for top-class safety features, should have weathered the storm. Prosecutors in Termini Imerese have launched an investigation, questioning passengers and witnesses. Giovanni Costantino, CEO of Perini's parent company, suggested human error might be to blame, despite the yacht's presumed 'unsinkable' status.

The Milan-listed company has suffered reputational damage, with shares falling 2.5% since the incident.

(With inputs from agencies.)