Three Killed in Catamaran and Yacht Collision Off Croatia.

According to available information, shortly before 11:30 a. m. local time, a passenger vessel operated by a private local company and a sailboat flying a French flag collided near the Split Gate, after which the sailboat sank.

According to Croatian police, the yacht sank after the collision in the Split Gate strait. At the time of the incident, there were 118 passengers and 7 crew members on the passenger vessel, while 8 people were aboard the sailboat, three of whom were killed and one remains missing. The other 4 people from the sunken French sailboat were pulled from the sea, Croatia’s Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure said. All available rescue boats are involved in the surface search, including police vessels from the Split maritime and airport police, emergency medical services and all other services.

Four people were rescued and received medical assistance. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

According to unofficial information from Croatian media, the victims may have been Czech citizens. There were eight people aboard the yacht: three were killed, one was reported missing and the remaining four passengers were rescued from the sea. Croatian public broadcaster HRT reported that the catamaran, operated by a private Croatian company, was carrying 118 passengers and that the yacht was sailing under a French flag.