A newly delivered 98-foot superyacht valued at roughly $9.1 million has sunk in the Mediterranean, only days after being handed over to its new owner.
The Angiola II was carrying 14 people, including guests and crew, on Tuesday near Porto Cervo, the famed resort destination on Sardinia’s coast, when an engine failure reportedly triggered a fire and the vessel began taking on water, according to the Telegraph.
Video from the scene captured the luxury yacht tilted sharply on its side as it slowly disappeared beneath the surface.
Despite the alarming scene, no injuries were reported. Most of those aboard were picked up by a nearby vessel during the rescue operation.
The owner, believed to be an unnamed Italian businessman, and one other passenger were said to be the final people to leave the yacht, reportedly waiting until Italian authorities arrived to bring them ashore, The Sun reported.
Once everyone was safe, crews secured the partially submerged yacht to the seabed to prevent it from drifting. Officials said there was no immediate indication that fuel had leaked into the water.
The loss was especially striking because the Angiola II had reportedly been delivered to its owner just four days before the incident.
Built in 2020 by Italian shipyard Permare, the Amer F100 model can accommodate as many as 10 guests across five cabins, along with space for five crew members, the Telegraph reported.
The four-engine vessel has four engines and can reach a speed of 28 knots, or just over 32 miles, per hour.
Italian authorities are preparing to deploy a 220-ton pontoon boat to retrieve the ship from the wreckage site.
The incident is under investigation by the Italian Coast Guard.
