Dolce Vento, an 85-foot yacht, that cost nearly $1 million, sank just 15 minutes after its maiden voyage in northern Turkey as panicked crew and passengers jumped overboard.
Here’s what happened
A shocking, yet dramatic video has surfaced which shows the yacht slipping into the sea, only to tip over and sink within minutes. The incident happened off the coast of northern Turkey’s Zonguldak’s Eregli district, earlier this week.
The luxury vessel, about 85 feet long and worth nearly $940,000, was being launched for the very first time after arriving from Istanbul, a New York Post report said. But the excitement quickly turned into panic when the yacht leaned to one side and went under.
Watch the video here:
Crew members jumped into the water
The yacht’s captain, owner and 2 crew members managed to jump into the water and swam safely back to shore without injuries. Soon after, the Coast Guard and port authorities moved in, setting up a safety zone around the sinking boat.
The reason why the yacht sank is still not clear. Some reports suggest that there might have been a problem with balance or stability. Authorities will carry out a full investigation and check the wreckage to find out what really caused the incident. Shipyard officials told New York Post that they are still investigating what caused the disaster, and technical checks will be carried out to find the reason.
This comes just weeks after another close call at sea, when a fishing boat with 11 people began sinking at night near Sheepshead Bay in New York. The NYPD Harbor Unit rushed in and rescued everyone on board.