The Bayesian yacht sinks off the coast of Sicily, killing at least 1

One person died and six people are missing when a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Palermo, the capital of Sicily, in Italy on Monday after a sudden storm hit the area, according to the Italian Coast Guard.

The Bayesian, a 184-foot British-registered sailboat, sank just before sunrise, capsizing with its 22 passengers, the Coast Guard said in a statement. The missing people include American, British and Canadian citizens.

Of the 15 rescued passengers, eight were taken to a local hospital for treatment and are in stable condition, local news reported. A one-year-old child was among those rescued.

“We are providing consular assistance to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Sicily and are liaising with local authorities,” the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY.

What led to the downfall of the Bayesian?

The ship sank after unexpectedly strong storms recently dumped heavy rains, causing flooding and landslides in parts of the country.

British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among those missing, a person familiar with the rescue operation told Reuters.

The captain of a nearby ship told Reuters his crew had rescued several survivors from a life raft, including three seriously injured people.