Rescue crews searching the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship were forced to temporarily suspend operations Wednesday morning as the ship shifted, the Italian Coast Guard has confirmed. Although the chances of finding anyone alive in the icy waters are slim, rescue teams plan to resume operations as soon as possible. Eleven bodies have been recovered from the ship and 24 other passengers remain missing and are feared dead.
When search operations are restarted rescuers will focus on an evacuation assembly area on the fourth deck, according to coast guard spokesman Cosimo Nicastro. The area, which is partially submerged, is where 7 of the dead were found. “It’s where we have already found seven of the bodies and it’s where the passengers and crew gathered to abandon ship,” said Nicastro.
The Costa Concordia was carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew when it struck rock and capsized Friday night off the Tuscan island of Giglio. Survivors say chaos ensued almost immediately as there seemed to be no direction or leadership from Captain Francesco Schettino or top crew members. Schettino has been arrested and could be charged with shipwreck, abandoning ship and manslaughter. Schettino is accused of fleeing the stricken vessel while passengers and crew remained on board fighting for lifeboats.
Schettino and his second-in-command had already fled the Costa Concordia in a lifeboat when Schettino spoke to an Italian Coast Guard official. The official, Gregorio De Falco, ordered him to return to the ship to direct the evacuation.
“There are people trapped on board. Now, you go with your lifeboat. Under the bow of the ship, on the right side, there is a ladder. You climb on that ladder and go on board the ship. Go on board the ship and get back to me and tell me how many people are there. Is that clear?” Falco told Schettino, according to a transcript of the conversation.
“At this moment the ship is listing,” the captain responded.
Falco ordered Schettino to return and find out what kind of help was needed. “Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea, but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Dammit, go back on board!” he said.
“You get back on board! That is an order! There is nothing else for you to consider. You have sounded the ‘Abandon Ship.’ Now I am giving the orders. Get back on board. Is that clear? Don’t you hear me?” Falco yelled.
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