Italy: one death confirmed after tourist boat overturns, with others missing

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At least one person has drowned and others are missing after a sudden whirlwind overturned a tourist boat on Italy’s Lake Maggiore.

Nineteen people were reportedly rescued safely after the vessel overturned on Sunday off Lisanza, at the southern end of the lake. Many of them managed to swim to the shore, but emergency services were still searching for others.

Rescue divers and a helicopter were searching for “some people reported to be missing”, the firefighter spokesman, Luca Cari, told AFP.

A firefighters’ video published by the Corriere della Sera showed the helicopter flying over choppy waters, where chairs and other debris could be seen floating.

The vessel was a tourist boat which overturned in bad weather, the Corriere della Sera said.

Lake Maggiore, which lies on the south side of the Alps, is the second largest lake in Italy and a popular tourist destination. It lies in the northern Lombardy region.

More details soon …