Search operations underway for drifting sailboat off Île d'Yeu

Search and rescue operations are underway off the coast of Île d'Yeu in the Vendée region to locate the occupants of a drifting 13-meter sailboat. The maritime prefecture of the Atlantic confirmed that the search was initiated by the Etel Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue (Cross).

The alert was raised by a passenger on a Brittany Ferries vessel traveling from Portsmouth, United Kingdom, to Bilbao, Spain, who noticed the boat in a precarious position. A rescue boat carrying three crew members was deployed from the ferry, but they reported finding no signs of life on or near the vessel.

Search efforts include the use of a helicopter and a maritime search and rescue aircraft. As of the latest reports, the number of people on board the sailboat remains unknown, and no emergency beacons have been activated.