$5 million yacht sinks minutes after maiden voyage; video

Hypotheses include structural failures, lack of ballast, or errors in the launch process; the shipyard has opened an investigation.

A luxury yacht, named Dolce Vento, sank just minutes after being launched into the sea on its maiden voyage, off the coast of Zonguldak, in northern Turkey, this Tuesday (2). The accident was recorded in a video and went viral on social media.

The vessel, valued at 700,000 euros (approximately R$5.1 million), had been delivered to its owner a few days earlier, according to the English newspaper The Sun. The video shows the boat being put to sea for the first time, with the owner, the captain, and two crew members on board. Within minutes, the boat began to roll to the side, until it capsized completely.

The four occupants managed to swim to shore unharmed. The vessel's estimated length is between 24 and 30 meters.

Coast Guard and port teams were mobilized to isolate the area and begin rescue and recovery efforts. The shipyard responsible reported that it has opened an investigation to determine the cause of the sinking.