Four dead after excursion boat capsizes on Lake Maggiore Strong typhoon moves towards southern Japan

Four people were killed when a pleasure boat capsized on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy. Information on possible victims from Switzerland was not available on Monday morning, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) announced on request.

Investigations in this regard are ongoing, the Swiss Consulate General in Milan (I) is in contact with the responsible authorities, it said.

According to the fire service, the other occupants of the boat could be rescued, APA news agency reported Monday morning. This after the ship capsized near the town of Lisanza (I) on the south side of the lake. Some of the rescued boat occupants had to be hospitalized. None of them were in life-threatening condition Monday morning.

According to the president of the Lombardy region, Attilio Fontana, the ship capsized due to a tornado. The 16-meter boat had been rented by tourists, he said on the social network Facebook. There were 23 people on board the boat.

Despite the difficult weather conditions, search and rescue efforts continued on Monday night. Several fire trucks were on the scene with divers and personnel and were investigating the coast towards Lisanza, a neighborhood of Sesto Calende (I), from where the houseboat had left for a birthday party, according to the ANSA news agency.

Located in the northern Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and Switzerland, Lake Maggiore is Italy’s second largest lake and a popular holiday destination. (sda/apa)