Italy ends search for cruise victims
- 12 years ago
Authorities call off the search for victims of the cruise ship sinking off Italy's coast.
Officials said it is no longer safe for dive teams to work inside the half-submerged Costa Concordia.
The families of 15 people still unaccounted for have been informed.
A fire bridgade spokesman says the ship's recent movements led to the indefinite suspension.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FIRE BRIGADE SPOKESMAN, LUCA CARI, SAYING:
"The suspension, at the moment, only concerns underwater operations inside the ship. We are continuing to work in the dry areas of the ship. Our rescue workers are still able to work there, so they are continuing the search. And we are also carrying on with the underwater search outside the ship."
Seventeen bodies have been recovered since the ship ran aground on January 13 in search operations that have been repeatedly suspended.
Efforts to remove fuel from the wreck are expected to take up to a month, but could be delayed further by worsening weather.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters
Officials said it is no longer safe for dive teams to work inside the half-submerged Costa Concordia.
The families of 15 people still unaccounted for have been informed.
A fire bridgade spokesman says the ship's recent movements led to the indefinite suspension.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FIRE BRIGADE SPOKESMAN, LUCA CARI, SAYING:
"The suspension, at the moment, only concerns underwater operations inside the ship. We are continuing to work in the dry areas of the ship. Our rescue workers are still able to work there, so they are continuing the search. And we are also carrying on with the underwater search outside the ship."
Seventeen bodies have been recovered since the ship ran aground on January 13 in search operations that have been repeatedly suspended.
Efforts to remove fuel from the wreck are expected to take up to a month, but could be delayed further by worsening weather.
Lindsey Parietti, Reuters