Divers blast more holes as search for bodies continues

SEARCH crews blasted more holes into the wrecked Italian liner yesterday to allow divers to continue their search for bodies, with time running out before the weather turns and salvage crews need to start pumping out the fuel tanks.

Six days after the 114,500-tonne Costa Concordia capsized off the Tuscan coast, hopes of finding anyone alive on the partially submerged hulk have all but disappeared and the cold waters around the ship have become noticeably rougher.

One of the specialist diving crews said yesterday the available window could be as small as 12 to 24 hours although the chief spokesman of the rescue services denied that any deadline had been set and said the situation was still evolving.

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Modesto Dilda, head of one of the diving teams, said: “The ship is a labyrinth. It’s gigantic and it’s lying on its side in the water. It’s a miracle that so many survived.”

Environment minister Corrado Clini has warned there is a risk that with sea conditions expected to worsen, the ship could slip down 50 to 90 metres from the reef it is resting on, further damaging the vessel and creating a major hazard to the environment in one of Europe’s largest natural marine parks.

He said ship operator Costa Cruises had been instructed to ensure steps are taken to limit the damage if the ship’s fuel tanks rupture, including putting in place some 1,000 metres of pollution barriers.

Mr Clini said fuel extraction would take at least two weeks and could not begin until the search for survivors and bodies had been completed.

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