Iconic Costa Concordia Bell Missing From Sunken Ship

The well-known bell of the capsized Costa Concordia cruise liner has recently gone missing, leaving Italian authorities perplexed. An investigation has been launched.

The metal bell, still hanging in its position, was attached to the sunken bow of the vessel as it crashed into the rocks off Giglio Island on January 13th, taking 32 lives during the accident. Many photos of the rescue and recovery effort portray divers swimming around and near the bell 26 feet below the water’s surface. It has become a sort of icon.

Several days ago, the bell mysteriously disappeared and authorities have no answers as to whom, why or how. Theft, in this case, would be a difficult undertaking. The partially-submerged luxury liner is forbidden territory to everyone, with the exception of rescuers, investigators and technicians. It is being patrolled by the Coast Guard. Additionally, the bell itself weighs over 22 pounds, which would require more than one diver to remove it.

BBC reports that if the bell's disappearance is confirmed, suspicion will focus on the search-and-rescue teams, who have constant access to the wreck. It also could have just freed itself.

Once the recovery and cleanup work was finished, the bell was designated for the Giglio residents – as a symbol off the tragedy. However, the city already has the ship’s statue of Madonna in their church which they claim is much more meaningful.

The Costa Concordia lies half-submerged in a hazardous position on an underwater slope, and is considered to be at risk of slipping further into the depths.