Search for Missing Passengers on Costa Concordia Suspended for Diver's Safety

Divers are being forced to suspend their underwater search for the passengers still unaccounted for in the wrecked Costa Concordia, as Italian Civil Protection Agency states that the deteriorating safety conditions are worsening. There have already been 17 confirmed deaths.

Rescue officials believe that a formal decision to call off the search entirely is likely to be made in the coming days. There are still 16 people listed as missing among the over 4,200 registered passengers and crew that were on board the Concordia. However, recent conditions of the submerged part of the vessel are too dangerous for rescuers to continue to work. The ship is lying at a steep angle on rocks in rather shallow water. Rescuers will continue to search parts of the wreck that are above water.

Last week, Italian navy divers identified 16 objects in the capsized ship’s surrounding water, but it could not be confirmed as to whether they were bodies or objects thrown from the cruise ship. Divers are now trying to clarify and investigate whether these are human remains.

Technical studies showed that the distortion of the liner’s hull created numerous safety concerns for divers and made a longer search impossible. Specific hazards were not identified. The families of the missing have been notified of the decision to suspend the search.

This would not be the first time that search efforts were briefly discontinued. The ship previously shifted on a few occasions, stopping progress, but work was resumed quite quickly afterwards. Currently, the problem may be more persistent or permanent as the safety conditions have been jeopardized.

The latest find on the ship happened on Saturday. A young woman’s body was found inside the submerged area of the sixth deck. She was later identified as a Peruvian crew member.

Also part of the emergency work on the vessel, rough winds and seas has forced salvage experts to put their fuel-draining plans on hold. The job, initially expected to take four weeks to complete, may not resume for a few more days based on weather conditions.

Video of the final dive: