Search continues in capsized liner

RESCUERS resumed a search of the hulk of a giant cruise liner off the west coast of Italy yesterday after bad weather forced them to halt operations, but hopes were fading of finding more survivors.

Worsening weather and heavy seas earlier made the wreck slip on the rocky underwater slope where it is lodged off the island of Giglio and rescue teams were evacuated.

But they returned to work after several hours, seeking up to 16 missing people out of the 4 200 who were aboard. Six bodies have been found so far.

Firefighters’ spokesman, Luca Cari, said there were still small movements but they were not considered dangerous. However, nighttime searches would be suspended.

Another senior firefighter, Luciano Roncalli, said that all the areas of the part-submerged liner that are above water had now been searched, indicating faint hopes of finding more survivors.

Earlier search teams recovered a sixth body from the 114 500-tonne Costa Concordia, which was holed by a rock late on Friday and rolled onto its side just off the coast of the picturesque port.

The giant, multi-storey liner had about 4 200 passengers and crew on board, though some uncertainty about the numbers means it is unclear just how many are unaccounted for. The vessel’s captain, Francesco Schettino, was arrested on Saturday.