AFM searching for five persons missing from yacht off Gozo

The AFM has launched a search for five French persons reportedly missing from a French yacht. The alarm was raised when a Spanish man called at Victoria police station at 4.30 p.m. yesterday, saying that the five - two men, two women and a 15-year-old boy - were missing from aboard the yacht of which he was the master.  They were reported to have left on a four-metre tender equipped with a 50hp engine from the yacht, ‘El Pirata’, which was anchored in the vicinity of Dwejra the previous evening, heading for Xlendi for dinner. The police confirmed that the five had indeed dined in a Xlendi restaurant. They left at about midnight (on Sunday-Monday night) but never showed up on their yacht. The AFM has deployed two patrol boats, a helicopter and a fixed wing aircraft on the search at sea. A search is also being made on the coast. All vessels transiting within the designated search area have been requested to keep a lookout. Any persons who may have information pertinent to this case are encouraged to contact RCC Malta on 22494202, the AFM said.