Safety worries stop hunt for missing Concordia passengers

Italian emergency officials have called off a search for missing people in the submerged part of the Costa Concordia cruise ship, owing to the danger to rescue workers.

By The Newsroom

Published 1st Feb 2012, 06:00 BST

Italy’s Civil Protection agency said technical studies indicated the deformed hull of the ship created too many safety concerns to continue the search. It said in a statement that relatives and diplomatic officials representing the countries of the missing have been informed of the decision.

The Concordia ran aground off the island of Giglio on January 13 when the captain deviated from his planned route and struck a reef, creating a huge gash that capsized the ship. Some 4,200 passengers and crew were on board when it capsized.

Seventeen bodies have been recovered, of which one has not yet been identified. Sixteen people are listed as missing but are presumed dead. The last time anyone was found alive was January 15.

A spokeswoman for Civil Protection, Francesca Maffini, stressed the search for those missing would continue wherever possible.

Italy