CCTV footage shows terrifying moment Sicily yacht sinks in mere seconds

Terrifying footage shows the moment that a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

The video was captured by a camera positioned in a villa on the nearby coast, around 200 meters from the stricken vessel.

In the black and white clip the yacht can be spotted by lights on its hull and mast, with one light showing the tip of the mast.

It is surrounded by darkness, with heavy rain hitting the camera in the foreground as the vessel pitches in the water.

After less than a minute the lights showing where the hull is shrink, before fading and disappearing entirely.

It all happens in a matter of seconds, and the light at the top of the mast can still be seen dimly at the end of the clip.

The 56m sailboat Bayesian had been carrying 22 people, and was reportedly anchored offshore near to the port of Porticello, on the northern coast of Sicily.

After the footage emerged the owner of the villa where the camera was positioned spoke to Italian news agency Ansa.

The Bayesian had been carrying 22 people. (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

As per Giornale di Sicilia, they said: "Of about twenty cameras installed in the property only one wasn't disturbed by the wind and the rain.

"You can see what happened very well. There was nothing that could be done for the boat. It disappeared in a very short time."

It's not clear exactly what caused the luxury yacht to sink so rapidly while anchored.

However, reports have suggested that the vessel may have been struck by a waterspout - a tornado that forms over water.

Maritime experts were left shocked by the speed at which the Bayesian appeared to sink.

Six people are still missing. (ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Stephen Richter, of SAR Marine Consulting, told NBC: "I can’t remember the last time I read about a vessel going down quickly like that, you know, completely capsizing and going down that quickly, a vessel of that nature, a yacht of that size."

He added: "Boats of this size, they’re taking passengers on an excursion or a holiday. They are not going to put them in situations where it may be dangerous or it may be uncomfortable, so this storm that popped up was obviously an anomaly."

One person was confirmed to have died following the sinking, while 15 have been rescued.

Six people are still missing, including technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch.

It is believed that those missing became trapped inside the vessel's hull, which is now located almost 170 feet underwater.

Investigations into why the Bayesian sank have been launched by Italian officials and the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch.