Could a waterspout have sunk a superyacht?

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Economist or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: On August 19th, the superyacht Bayesian, owned by British tech tycoon Mike Lynch's wife, sank off Sicily during a sudden nighttime storm
•  Of the 22 people on board, 15 were rescued, one was found dead, and six remain missing, including Mr. Lynch and his daughter

🔭 The context: Waterspouts, which are essentially sea tornadoes, could potentially have caused the yacht's rapid sinking •  These intense columns of water can be extremely hazardous, especially to vessels caught in their path

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While waterspouts are natural phenomena, their increasing frequency due to climate change could pose rising risks to marine activities and coastal communities
• They pose significant risks to marine activities due to their intense winds, which can exceed 100 mph, quickly forming and giving little warning
• Moreover, their unpredictable nature makes them particularly hazardous for marine operations, especially in coastal and open water areas

⏭️ What's next: The search for the missing passengers continues as authorities investigate the exact cause of the yacht's sinking, with waterspouts being a potential factor

💬 One quote: “Witnesses say that the massive 56m-long vessel was submerged in a matter of minutes,” highlighting the storm's sudden and violent nature

📈 One stat: According to Allianz's Safety & Shipping Review 2023, extreme weather events are responsible for approximately 20% of the total losses of large ships globally each year

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