The Economist explains

Could a waterspout have sunk a superyacht?

These columns of spray, in essence sea tornadoes, can be highly dangerous

A waterspout in the sea
Photograph: Alamy

DURING A SUDDEN nighttime storm on August 19th a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily. There were 22 people on board the Bayesian, including Mike Lynch, a British tech tycoon, and his wife, who owns the yacht. The Italian coastguard has rescued her and 14 others; one passenger was recovered dead and six remain missing, including Mr Lynch and his teenage daughter. Witnesses say that the massive 56-metre-long vessel was submerged in a matter of minutes.

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