Palermo, Italy—Two vessels collided in the open water off the coast of Sicily early Thursday morning. The impact claimed the lives of six people and left several others missing. Coast guard units responded to the scene within minutes of receiving a distress signal from a local fishing trawler.

The collision occurred under clear skies and calm sea conditions. One of the vessels was a private motor yacht, while the other was a small commercial transport boat. The force of the impact caused the smaller craft to sink almost immediately, trapping occupants below deck.

Divers spent most of the day searching the wreckage in depths of nearly forty meters. They confirmed six fatalities during the recovery operation. The survivors were pulled from the water by nearby vessels that answered the emergency radio broadcast.

Regional police have impounded the surviving yacht to begin an immediate investigation. They are interviewing the captain to determine why the collision occurred. Preliminary reports suggest a failure in the navigation radar on one of the vessels.

A temporary coordination hub has been established at the local port. Families of the victims are gathered there, waiting for news as rescue divers continue to check the surrounding area. Port authorities have restricted all private maritime traffic in the immediate vicinity.

The maritime office has launched a formal inquiry into the safety protocols of private operators in these waters. They are reviewing the flight logs and the electronic positioning records from both ships. The investigation will remain open while forensic teams process the recovered wreckage.

Work to raise the sunken vessel will begin once weather conditions permit. Officials expect to hold a press briefing once all bodies are recovered and identified. The port remains under a high-alert status as coordination efforts continue.