The number of people missing following Friday’s cruise ship accident has risen to 29 with six confirmed dead. The ship had been carrying 4,200 passengers and crew at the time of the incident, and the missing include passengers from Italy, Germany, France and the US. Following the disaster, which occured when the Costa Concordia crashed into rocks off Italy’s west coast, the ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, has been detained by authorities on suspicion of manslaughter.
The captain has not only been blamed for causing the accident by changing course towards the island of Giglio to ‘salute’ a crew member’s family living there, but he has also be accused of leaving the ship before all the passengers had been evacuated – something he denies.
Italy has said that it will be declaring a state of emergency and will give funding to help prevent an environmental disaster. The area is a maritime park famous for its pristine waters, varied marine life and coral. Liquid is said to be leaking from the ship, but it is as yet unclear whether it is fuel.
