Accident with four dead on Lake Maggiore: Did hull manipulation and too many passengers cause the boat to capsize?

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A group wanted to celebrate their birthday on a houseboat on Lake Maggiore on Sunday night. Now four people are dead.

The boat accident that took place near the Italian city of Lisanza also did not let people go on Tuesday. Now new details about the deaths and the possible cause of the accident have become known.

Two women and two men were killed on Sunday evening. Autopsies on their bodies have been ordered. For the Israeli Shimoni E.* († 54), a former high-ranking agent of the Israeli secret service, all help came too late. He had just retired.

Claudio A.* († 62) and Tiziana B.* († 53) worked for the Italian secret service – they are also deceased members of the group,” said the Italian authorities.

Anna B.* († 50) is also among the deceased. Born in Russia, she is the wife of boat owner Claudio C*. They lived together on the houseboat “Good…uria” and rented it out for parties. C.* may now face legal consequences, as reported by the “Corriere della Sera”.

Of the 19 rescued passengers, 18 were current or former Secret Service employees. The survivors quickly left the hospitals and the Israelis are said to have even returned to their homeland in a military plane. It is suspected that the meeting was not a party at all, but a meeting to exchange information.

According to media reports, the focus in the first hours after the accident was on the bad weather. Torrential rain and storms apparently prevented the boat from making it ashore in time – and capsized. Prosecutors are now investigating other factors. This includes the occupancy and capacity of the boat at the time of the accident.

Several Italian media write that the 16 meter long boat, a 1982 “Dutch Shuttle” with 380 hp, could accommodate up to 15 passengers. But there were 23 people on board, including two crew members. This had already affected the boat’s maneuverability under normal conditions. The stormy weather on Sunday could have done the rest.

Another detail indicates a violation of safety standards on board. According to the “Corriere della Sera”, it cannot be ruled out that the hull of the boat was manipulated by the skipper couple. Should extra space be created for the passengers, especially in the upper part of the boat? The investigation has yet to determine whether the changes to the hull were irregular adjustments and whether they may have increased the effects of the storm.

* Names known

Source: Blick