Italian officials confirmed Tuesday the discovery of another body on board the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship. The body was found on the third deck. Authorities have not confirmed reports the body is that of a woman. Tuesday’s discovery, which brings the death toll from the accident to 16, follows the recovery of two bodies over the weekend. The two women were found on the submerged fourth deck near the Internet Café.
Sixteen passengers are currently declared missing, but rescuers are looking for “24 to 25” people because about 8 people may have been on the Costa Concordia unregistered, according to the official in charge of the search effort. Franco Gabrielli said Monday dive teams will search each one of the 1,500 cabins on board.
Meanwhile, officials say workers will begin pumping the 2,400 tons of fuel out of the Costa Concordia this week. The fuel will be replaced with water to keep the ship balanced on its rocky resting place off the island of Giglio. The salvage operation will not disrupt divers in their search for the missing.
The Costa Concordia was carrying more than 4,200 passengers and crew when it struck rock and capsized Friday, January 13. Survivors say chaos ensued almost immediately as there seemed to be no direction or leadership from Captain Francesco Schettino or top crew members.
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