Italy Suspends Cruise Ship Rescue Mission

Italian rescue workers suspended operations trying to find the remaining missing people from the Costa Concordia cruise ship that crashed into rocks last Friday.
Italy Suspends Cruise Ship Rescue Mission
Cruise ship Costa Concordia lies stricken off the shore of the island of Giglio on January 18, 2012 in Giglio Porto, Italy. (Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)
1/18/2012
Updated:
10/1/2015
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Italian rescue workers suspended operations trying to find the remaining missing people from the Costa Concordia cruise ship that crashed into rocks last Friday, local reports say.

The 950-foot-long ship, which toppled over due to the crash, shifted dangerously on the rocks, forcing Italian authorities to halt rescue operation to find 28 missing people, reported the Italy-based Adnkronos news agency. In all, 11 people are confirmed dead.

The Concordia shifted more than a meter, reported Italian news agency ANSA.

Right before the accident, Francesco Schettino, the ship’s captain, is said to have moved the vessel closer to the island of Giglio to allow passengers a better view of the local town. The ship crashed on rocks that Schettino said were not on his navigation map.

On Wednesday, Environmental Minister Corrado Clini said his office has “started operations to recover the fuel” from the ship, according to ANSA. The ship contains more than 2,300 tons of fuel.

The operation is expected to take 28 days, depending on sea and weather conditions.