Photo: Nicola Belillo / Photodisc / Getty Images
A luxury yacht named Dolce Vento sank just minutes after its launch on Tuesday (September 2) off the coast of Zonguldak, Turkey. The 85-foot vessel, valued at approximately $1 million, was launched from the Med Yilmaz Shipyard in Ereğli. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. and was captured in a viral video showing the yacht tipping over and taking on water.
According to BOAT International, the yacht capsized due to a suspected stabilization issue, causing it to sink to a depth of more than 20 feet. The owner, captain, and two crew members on board managed to jump into the water and swim to safety, unharmed. The Coast Guard and rescue teams quickly arrived at the scene to secure the area and begin recovery operations.
The exact cause of the sinking is still under investigation, but experts suggest that errors in calculating the boat's metacentric height might have contributed to the stability issues. Technical inspections of Dolce Vento will be conducted soon to determine the precise reasons behind the mishap.