Two Italian secret service agents and a retired Israeli security forces member were among four people killed when a boat carrying more than 20 tourists sank during a “whirlwind” in Italy.
The 52ft vessel, hired for a birthday trip, capsized while touring the northern beauty spot of Lake Maggiore on Sunday evening.
The victims have been named as Italians Claudio Alonzi, 62, and Tiziana Barnobi, 53. Israeli Shimoni Erez, 50, and Anya Bozhkova, 50, from Russia, also died.
Firefighters said 19 people were saved after a sudden whirlwind toppled the boat on Sunday night.
Five were reportedly taken to hospital after being pulled from the water. Many managed to swim to shore, or were picked up by other boats.
Italian news outlets said the vessel had been hired to celebrate a birthday.
It was carrying around 25 people, including crew, when the weather suddenly turned. The boat is said to have overturned and sunk between the towns of Sesto Calende and Arona in northern Italy.
Attilio Fontana, president of the Lombardy region, said the “very serious incident” was due to bad weather.
The whirlwind was part of a storm system that hit Lombardy on Sunday evening, forcing delays at Milan’s Malpensa airport.
One local described the moment the powerful weather front rolled in.
They told Italy’s La Stampa: “Suddenly the sky went black and a very heavy rain broke out. You could see almost nothing from the shore.”
A search and rescue mission was launched with divers, boats and a helicopter in the 41-mile lake on the border of Switzerland.
Lake Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy and a popular tourist destination.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are in contact with local authorities in Italy after a boat accident and are ready to provide consular assistance to any British nationals involved.”
