Death toll in Croatia ship collision rises to four

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Split: The death toll due to a collision between a passenger catamaran and a sailboat on Croatia's Adriatic coast has risen to four, with rescuers recovering the body of a missing passenger from the submerged vessel, police said on Sunday.

The tragedy happened late Saturday between the Croatian islands of Šolta and Brač, near the coastal city of Split. A French-flagged sailboat carrying eight Czech nationals collided with a passenger catamaran with 118 people and seven crew.

Three individuals on the sailboat were found dead shortly after the crash, while four others were rescued from the sea. The body of the remaining missing passenger was later discovered inside the wreck, bringing the death toll to four.

According to Croatian maritime authorities, the sailboat sank after the collision and was later found at a depth of more than 50 metres beneath the Adriatic Sea. Underwater conditions and poor visibility hampered recovery operations.

There were no casualties reported among passengers or crew on the catamaran, which remained afloat following the collision. Emergency responders, coast guard units, and rescue vessels were dispatched to the location as soon as distress calls were received.

Authorities are investigating the reason of the crash, including meteorological conditions, navigation protocols, and vessel movements. French and Czech officials have also been alerted as the investigation continues.