The 30-meter luxury yacht Angiola II has sunk off the coast of northern Sardinia in Italy after catching fire on board.
Emergency services rescued all 14 passengers from the vessel before it went down in waters near Porto Cervo, according to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero. The yacht was valued at more than eight million euros and had been handed over to its new owner just four days before the incident.
The fire broke out as the craft navigated the passage between Cappuccini Island and Capo Ferro cape along the Costa Smeralda. Local emergency responders pulled everyone on board to safety. Authorities later confirmed that environmental monitoring detected no fuel leaks or pollution in the surrounding water.
Maritime officials dispatched a tugboat to retrieve the damaged vessel and tow it to shore. An investigation is planned to determine what caused the fire on board.
Yacht history and manufacturer statement
Shipbuilder Amer Yachts confirmed that the Angiola II was launched in 2020 and had changed owners several times prior to the recent sale. The Italian manufacturer stated that it oversaw technical maintenance for the vessel while it remained under factory warranty.
Company representatives expressed relief that all passengers and crew members were brought to safety and noted that they are awaiting the results of the official investigation. Amer Yachts is an Italian luxury yacht builder headquartered in Sanremo that specializes in custom motor vessels.
Porto Cervo, where the rescue took place, is the principal resort town on Sardinia's Costa Smeralda. The region was developed in the 1960s as a destination for international yachting and luxury tourism.
Previous maritime incidents
The incident follows a separate maritime accident off the coast of Alaska in the United States, where a whale sank an anchored yacht carrying a sleeping family of three. All three individuals escaped without injury. Investigators reported that the whale likely struck the boat while trying to feed on fish sheltering under the hull.
