Two Italian secret service agents and an Israeli Mossad agent were among four people who died when a boat capsized on Lake Maggiore in Italy on Sunday, Italian authorities said on Tuesday. EFE news agency.
Rescue operations are underway after a boat capsized on Lake Maggiore in ItalyPhoto: Re/Photograma / Zuma Press / Profimedia
A tourist boat with 24 people on board (22 passengers and two crew members) capsized on Lake Maggiore in northern Italy’s Lombardy region on Sunday evening, killing four people after a strong storm “came out of nowhere” at around 7 p.m. :30, the fire department and reporters announced.
Weekend reports said people were celebrating their birthdays on a 16-metre-long boat when it capsized in a violent storm and sank. Firefighters said on Twitter that 19 survivors swam to shore and the wreckage was found by divers at a depth of 16 meters.
Italian intelligence officials later announced that the victims included Italian agents Claudio Alonzi, 62, and Tizziana Barnobi, 53.
A Russian woman has rented the boat to them. The woman also died
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the man has been identified as retired Israeli Mossad agent Shimoni Erez (age 50). According to Italian media, the Israeli Embassy in Rome has begun proceedings to return his body to Israel.
The fourth victim was identified as Anya Boshkova, a Russian woman and the wife of the boat’s owner, who rented it to tourists.
The other passengers on board were all Italians and Israelis, some of whom were members of the secret services, according to local media.
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