Death toll in Italian ship wreck raises

PanARMENIAN.Net - Emergency workers searched Tuesday, Jan 17, for 28 people missing from an Italian cruise disaster that killed seven as the ship's captain faced an interrogation on accusations that he veered wildly off course.

Rescuers found a body in the wreckage early Tuesday, raising the death toll, AFP reports citing daily La Stampa.

The body had not yet been recovered, the publication said, quoting rescue workers.

The head of the Italian coastguard, Marco Brusco, said there was "a glimmer of hope" for finding more survivors since the giant half-submerged vessel had not yet been fully inspected, but rescuers said the chances were now slim.

Brusco said four crew members and 25 tourists including six Italians remained unaccounted for.

A German official said at least 10 German nationals were still missing and two U.S. nationals were also yet to be found.

Seven bodies have so far been found in the wreck of the Costa Concordia, which occurred off the coast of the picturesque island of Giglio late on Friday the 13th. Three of the victims - two French passengers and one Peruvian crew member - drowned after jumping into the chilly Mediterranean waters to escape.

According to the AP, the number of missing reached 29.

Miami-based Carnival Corp., which owns the Italian operator, estimated that preliminary losses from having the Concordia out of operation at least through 2012 would be between $85 million and $95 million, though it said there would be other costs as well. The company's share price slumped more than 16 percent Monday.