US$1 million yacht sinks off Turkey coast on maiden voyage, all onboard jump overboard

A luxury yacht valued at approximately US$1 million (HK$7.8 million) sank just 15 minutes into its maiden voyage off the coast of Turkey, forcing all occupants to jump overboard.

The Dolce Vento, Italian for "sweet wind," began listing heavily to one side shortly after departing from Zonguldak in northern Turkey before completely submerging beneath the surface.

The vessel, measuring about 85 feet, had just been delivered to its owner from Istanbul. The owner, captain and two crew members all abandoned ship and swam safely to shore.

Coast Guard and port teams established a security perimeter around the sunken yacht. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the sinking.

Social media footage of the incident attracted numerous comments, with some speculating that excessive top weight and improper stability calculations might have caused the capsizing.