A chartered houseboat on Lake Maggiore close to Italy sank Sunday, killing 4 of the 24 occupants. All 21 passengers have been affiliated with Israeli or Italian intelligence and protection groups.

The passengers have been on the boat, the Goduria, to have a good time a birthday. A violent storm and winds, together with a waterspout, capsized the vessel at round 7 p.m. native time.

Some of the revelers managed to swim ashore, whereas others have been rescued by different boats. Among the survivors, 5 have been hospitalized, none with severe harm. The 4 victims who drowned have been Israeli nationwide Erez Shimoni, Italians Tiziana Barnobi and Claudio Alonzi, and Russian nationwide Anya Bozhkova, spouse of the boat’s captain, who survived.

Shimoni was confirmed Wednesday to be a former Mossad agent, whereas Barnobi and Alonzi have been working members of the Italian secret service.

The skipper, Claudio Carminati, is being investigated for his position within the accident; officers wish to discern if the Goduria had too many individuals aboard. Mr. Carminati and Bozhkova lived on and helped crew the boat. 

“I was hoping it wasn’t really them, but unfortunately that’s the case. They lived on board, it was their home,” an unnamed acquaintance of the couple who arrived on the scene advised Italy’s ANSA information company, as translated by Google.

Israel didn't publicly point out Shimoni’s identification.

“The Mossad lost a dear friend, a devoted and professional member who dedicated his life to the security of the State of Israel for decades. Given his service with the agency, it is not possible to elaborate on his identity,” the workplace of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned in a press release.

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