Juan Carlos Montes. Photo: Paul Spiteri LucasThe French couple Elias Chmouni and Sandrine Godet, who were among the five tourists lost at sea on Sunday night, have left behind a five-month-old son and a three-year-old daughter, who are staying with their grandfather in Paris.
The skipper of the yacht has spoken on his friends' decision to take a boat instead of a taxi for their ill-fated dinner in Xlendi and also his own decision not to join them but stay put.
Juan Carlo Montes says he battled rough seas throughout the night and repeatedly tried to contact his friends, but he always thought that they were safe on land as the sea got rough.
Full story by Kristina Chetcuti and an exclusive picture of the five on their boat can be seen on The Times.
Meanwhile, the search for the two people who are still missing continued this morning by an Italo-Maltese crew on an Italian Military Mission helicopter.
Minister orders inquiry
Transport Minister Joe Mizzi said in a statement that he has ordered a preliminary inquiry into the incident in terms of the Merchant Shipping Act.
The inquiry is to be led by master mariner Capt. Mario Grech, Master Mariner.
Meanwhile, the Marine Safety Investigation Unit within Transport Malta is conducting a separate safety investigation in terms of the relevant national legislation with the objective of identifying causes and safety issues, and where possible or necessary, make recommendations with the scope of improving safety.