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| Italy probes sinking of cruise ship Costa Concordia | Italy probes sinking of cruise ship Costa Concordia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Police in Italy are investigating the sinking of a luxury cruise ship off the country's west coast, in which at least three people were killed. | Police in Italy are investigating the sinking of a luxury cruise ship off the country's west coast, in which at least three people were killed. |
| The captain of the Costa Concordia, which ran aground late on Friday, has been detained for questioning. | The captain of the Costa Concordia, which ran aground late on Friday, has been detained for questioning. |
| Most of the 4,000 people on board left by lifeboats, but some swam ashore. | Most of the 4,000 people on board left by lifeboats, but some swam ashore. |
| About 40 are still unaccounted for. A South Korean couple found alive in a cabin on the half-submerged vessel was brought ashore early on Sunday. | |
| Rescuers heard voices from a cabin two decks down on the half-submerged ship late on Saturday, and the couple were reached a few hours later. | |
| The pair, about 29 years old, who were reportedly on honeymoon, were both said to be in good condition when they were rescued. | |
| Meanwhile, divers are continuing to comb submerged parts of the ship, which is lying on its side close to a coastal island. | Meanwhile, divers are continuing to comb submerged parts of the ship, which is lying on its side close to a coastal island. |
| The vessel, which is operated by Costa Cruises, had sailed from Civitavecchia near Rome on Friday on a regular weekly Mediterranean cruise when it ran aground. | The vessel, which is operated by Costa Cruises, had sailed from Civitavecchia near Rome on Friday on a regular weekly Mediterranean cruise when it ran aground. |
| The president of Costa Cruises, Gianni Onorato, said the main task for the company was now to assist survivors and help repatriate them. | The president of Costa Cruises, Gianni Onorato, said the main task for the company was now to assist survivors and help repatriate them. |
| He said it was difficult to determine what had happened, but that the ship had experienced a blackout after hitting "a big rock". | He said it was difficult to determine what had happened, but that the ship had experienced a blackout after hitting "a big rock". |
| Mr Onorato added: "We will be working in full transparency with Italian authorities" to understand the causes of the disaster. | Mr Onorato added: "We will be working in full transparency with Italian authorities" to understand the causes of the disaster. |
| He said normal lifeboat evacuation had become "almost impossible" because the ship had listed so quickly. | He said normal lifeboat evacuation had become "almost impossible" because the ship had listed so quickly. |
| Francesco Schettino, the 52-year-old captain, had worked for Costa Cruises for 11 years. | Francesco Schettino, the 52-year-old captain, had worked for Costa Cruises for 11 years. |
| The chief prosecutor in the city of Grosseto told reporters that Capt Schettino "very ineptly got close to Giglio", according to Italy's Ansa news agency. | The chief prosecutor in the city of Grosseto told reporters that Capt Schettino "very ineptly got close to Giglio", according to Italy's Ansa news agency. |
| A large gash can be seen in the hull of the Costa Concordia as it lies on its side about 200m (650ft) off Giglio island. | A large gash can be seen in the hull of the Costa Concordia as it lies on its side about 200m (650ft) off Giglio island. |
| Shaken | Shaken |
| Italian, German, French and British nationals were among the 3,200 passengers on board. There were also 1,000 crew. | Italian, German, French and British nationals were among the 3,200 passengers on board. There were also 1,000 crew. |
| Those who died include two French passengers and a Peruvian crewman. | Those who died include two French passengers and a Peruvian crewman. |
| Investigators will now look into every aspect of this accident, but one of the key elements they will examine will be the electrical systems. | Investigators will now look into every aspect of this accident, but one of the key elements they will examine will be the electrical systems. |
| Modern ships tend to use electrical generators to drive the engines, so a power cut can leave the captain unable to steer away from danger. | Modern ships tend to use electrical generators to drive the engines, so a power cut can leave the captain unable to steer away from danger. |
| Human error could also be a factor, and there will also be concern at the speed which the ship listed on to its side. Not only would that have been frightening, it seems to have affected the crew's ability to launch some of the lifeboats. | Human error could also be a factor, and there will also be concern at the speed which the ship listed on to its side. Not only would that have been frightening, it seems to have affected the crew's ability to launch some of the lifeboats. |
| All ships have to meet safety standards set out by the International Maritime Organisation. Crews are trained to deal with emergencies, and cruise companies stress this kind of accident is rare. | All ships have to meet safety standards set out by the International Maritime Organisation. Crews are trained to deal with emergencies, and cruise companies stress this kind of accident is rare. |
| Coast guard captain Cosimo Nicastro told Italian TV that divers had carried out an extensive search of the waters near the vessel and found no further bodies. | Coast guard captain Cosimo Nicastro told Italian TV that divers had carried out an extensive search of the waters near the vessel and found no further bodies. |
| Some passengers were rescued by lifeboat, helicopters plucked to safety some who were trapped on the ship, and others jumped from the ship into the cold sea. | Some passengers were rescued by lifeboat, helicopters plucked to safety some who were trapped on the ship, and others jumped from the ship into the cold sea. |
| A school and private homes took in the passengers and crew. On Saturday the survivors were taken by ferries to Porto Santo Stefano on the mainland, about 25km (15 miles) away. | A school and private homes took in the passengers and crew. On Saturday the survivors were taken by ferries to Porto Santo Stefano on the mainland, about 25km (15 miles) away. |
| The BBC's Alan Johnson's at the scene says many arrived there still wrapped in blankets, and some were clearly very shaken by what they had endured. | The BBC's Alan Johnson's at the scene says many arrived there still wrapped in blankets, and some were clearly very shaken by what they had endured. |
| Passenger Luciano Castro told Ansa news agency: "We heard a loud noise while we were at dinner as if the keel of the ship hit something." | Passenger Luciano Castro told Ansa news agency: "We heard a loud noise while we were at dinner as if the keel of the ship hit something." |
| "The ship started taking in water through the hole and began tilting." | "The ship started taking in water through the hole and began tilting." |
| Some passengers told the Associated Press news agency that the crew had failed to give instructions on how to evacuate the ship. | Some passengers told the Associated Press news agency that the crew had failed to give instructions on how to evacuate the ship. |
| Titanic comparisons | Titanic comparisons |
| Another survivor, Mara Parmegiani, told Italian media there were "scenes of panic". | Another survivor, Mara Parmegiani, told Italian media there were "scenes of panic". |
| "We were very scared and freezing because it happened while we were at dinner so everyone was in evening wear. | "We were very scared and freezing because it happened while we were at dinner so everyone was in evening wear. |
| "We definitely didn't have time to get anything else. They gave us blankets but there weren't enough," she said. | "We definitely didn't have time to get anything else. They gave us blankets but there weren't enough," she said. |
| Several passengers compared the accident to the film Titanic, about the sinking of the giant ocean liner in April 1912 which claimed more than 1,500 lives. | Several passengers compared the accident to the film Titanic, about the sinking of the giant ocean liner in April 1912 which claimed more than 1,500 lives. |
| The precise number of those who remain unaccounted for is unclear. | The precise number of those who remain unaccounted for is unclear. |
| Late on Saturday local official Giuseppe Linardi said up to 41 people were missing. | Late on Saturday local official Giuseppe Linardi said up to 41 people were missing. |
| He said some might still be housed in private homes on Giglio. | He said some might still be housed in private homes on Giglio. |
| About 40 people are being treated in hospital. | About 40 people are being treated in hospital. |
| "I can easily understand the comparisons to the film, how it must have been on the Titanic, or in a fiction film," passenger Francesca Sinatra said. | "I can easily understand the comparisons to the film, how it must have been on the Titanic, or in a fiction film," passenger Francesca Sinatra said. |
| Some "tens" of British passengers are believed to have been on board, said the UK Foreign Office, which has sent a team to the area. | Some "tens" of British passengers are believed to have been on board, said the UK Foreign Office, which has sent a team to the area. |
| Were you on the cruise ship? Do you have friends and family on the ship? Are you on the island of Giglio? Did you witness the accident? You can send your comments to the BBC using the form below: | Were you on the cruise ship? Do you have friends and family on the ship? Are you on the island of Giglio? Did you witness the accident? You can send your comments to the BBC using the form below: |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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