Shipwreck in Italy: Brazilian reports moments of panic

Ship's casualty is arrested in Italy
The cruise ship fell on its side of the rocky island of Giglio.
The cruise ship fell on its side of the rocky island of Giglio.
REUTERS / Remo Casilla
Silvano Mendes

Naufrágio de navio de cruzeiro na Itália deixa três mortos
Terra Brasil - ‎há 39 minutos‎



Ilha de Giglio, Itália, 14 Jan 2012 (AFP) -Ao menos três pessoas morreram e cerca de 40 ainda "não foram localizadas" após o naufrágio, na madrugada deste sábado, de um navio de cruzeiro com mais de 4 mil pessoas a bordo na costa da Toscana, ...
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The Italian justice decided to arrest the commander of the ship Concordia, Costa Cruises, for multiple murder, and abandonment of the ship sinking. The vessel, which witnesses said was sailing too close to the coast, hit a rock and had breached the hull, falling aside. The ship was carrying 4,229 people. Three deaths have been confirmed and even tonight, 41 people were still missing and 42 injured, two seriously. A third of the passengers were Italian and 46 Brazilians were on board.

The Italian rescuers continue the search for missing Saturday, while more than 4,000 occupants of the ship is transferred to the small island of Giglio, where they are installed in schools, churches and houses of the inhabitants. According to Giuseppe Linardi, prefect of the region, at least three deaths have been confirmed. "We can not exclude at this point that there are still missing. You should verify that no one was locked in the submerged part, "Wang said.

The ship Costa Concordia was on a one week cruise in the Mediterranean Sea when it would have hit a rock near the island of Giglio. The collision caused a shortfall of more than 70 feet long in the hull of the boat, which immediately began to tilt. The accident, which occurred during the dinner for the passengers, caused uproar and panic, which led many to throw themselves into the sea. Health authorities confirmed that the three fatalities drowned in the frigid waters of the region, which is in winter.

On Saturday morning, at least nine helicopters and 12 ships participated in the rescue operation. Costa Cruises has indicated that as yet it is not possible to determine the causes of the accident, but ensures that the withdrawal of persons was carried out quickly, despite criticism from some passengers.

Prison

Francesco Schettino, cruise ship's captain, was arrested after being questioned for several hours. The captain Francesco Schettino and his first officer Ciro Ambrosio are accused of multiple murder, and abandonment of the ship sinking.

The journalist Giorgio Fanculli, the island of Giglio, who runs the site www.giglionews.it witnessed the wreck and the withdrawal of the passengers. He confirmed that the ship sailed too close to the coast and it hit the rock.

Brazilians on board

According to Costa Cruises, 4,229 people were on board the ship (3,216 passengers and 1,013 crew). The initial lists released by the company, were 989 Italians, 569 Germans, 462 French, 177 Spanish, 129 Americans, 127 Croats, 108 Russians, 74 Austrians, 60 Swiss, 46 Brazilians and 46 Japanese. The Concorde had set sail from Civitavecchia, near Rome, and should make stops in Palermo, Cagliari, Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona and Marseille.