Moment luxury 150ft megayacht with five wealthy tourists on board starts sinking off Greek holiday island after crew 'left a side door open' on £180,000-a-week vessel

This is the terrifying moment a stunning Italian superyacht started sinking off an idyllic Greek holiday island after a member of the crew left a side door open.

The 150ft megayacht 'Ethos', setting renters back a whopping £180,000-a-week, was seen taking in water off the coast of Kefalonia while in the Paleokaravo Bay.

A diver was called in to scout local reefs as guards continue to monitor efforts to recover the yacht after it ran aground in Evretis Bay, where it was anchored. 

But it was later revealed the inflow came after one of the crew left a side door open - and did not have time to close it once the weather 'turned', local media reports.

The five tourists aboard have safely disembarked with the five crew on board, belonging to yacht's hotel staff, Protothema reported today.

The award-winning Maltese-flagged yacht is rented out to up to 12 guests looking for a 'relaxed' charter experience.

It boasts five cabins, an onboard gym, deck jacuzzi and jet skis, promising guests 'exceptional comfort levels at anchor or when underway'.

Astonishing scenes showed the moment the ship started taking on water in the Ionian Sea

Crew had left a door open and did not have time to close it when the weather 'turned' 

The vessel was seen off balance in the waters around the port on Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea

Shocking footage showed the vessel off balance on the blue waters around Kefalonia, a popular island in the Ionian Sea known as the setting for Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

A private boat, shown in the footage, was reported to be at the scene as habour guards monitored the situation.

Waves are seen lashing at the stern of the yacht, now some distance from the shoreline.

The cause of the incident is yet to be determined, local outlet Protothema reports.

But the security systems on board are reported to have worked.

Water seeping into the vessel was also claimed to have 'been depleted' without intervention.

The stunning yacht, built in 2014, is available for private charter, inviting guests to enjoy a 'warm and welcoming' atmosphere as they soak up the Greek sun.

The vessel boasts room for 12 guests and nine staff, with 12 beds on board divided between a master suite and two VIP cabins.

A 'beach club', sauna and gym are built in for guests to unwind in peace on their holidays.

This comes at a cost of £150,000 a week - plus expenses - up to £180,000 in high season.

Five British tourists had to be rescued from their burning 21ft motor boat off the coast of the Greek island of Zakynthos last August after it erupted into flames.

One of the passengers reportedly suffered burns when the craft caught fire some 250 feet from shore. 

It is unclear what triggered the blaze, but the flames quickly engulfed the 21ft craft, before the vessel was completely overcome by the inferno.

All tourists and crew on board were able to safely disembark from the vessel

A private boat appeared nearby as guards monitored the situation from the shore

The stunning 150ft megayacht comes fully equipped with an onboard gym and beach club

The vessel can set holidaymakers back as much as £180,000 per week plus expenses

Footage showed huge black plumes of smoke billowing from the wreckage of the boat as rescue teams waded in to lend assistance.

Only two months prior, British holidaymakers had to be rescued from a burning boat after it went up in flames off the island of Rhodes.

British holidaymakers were on board as the inferno engulfed the entire boat after a fire broke out about 300 metres from Stenga beach in the town of Archangelos. 

Passengers told of how they were forced to make the plunge into the water below as the entire wooden deck started to catch fire where they were standing.

The Greek coast guard said all 82 passengers were eventually taken to land, but witnesses said children were still left 'traumatised' by the horrifying ordeal.