The sinking of the Bayesian
super-yacht off Sicily last Monday was due to a sudden and
abrupt event called a downburst, prosecutors investigating the
incident for possible negligent-manslaughter charges told a
press conference Saturday.
British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah
and five others were killed when the yacht went down in a minute
or so after being hit by a freak storm, according to a video of
the event.
A tornado-like waterspout was initially blamed but authorities
now think a localised, very powerful extreme weather event
called a downburst may have sunk the vessel.
A downburst is a "violent phenomenon different from a tornado,
with extremely strong winds whipping across a wide area,
associated with intense rain and hail," said judicial
authorities.
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