Rescuers try to access flooded lower cabins as number of passengers missing on stricken vessel stands at 29
Amid growing confusion over the number of passengers still missing from the Costa Concordia, navy explosives experts have blown a series of holes in the hull of the stricken cruise liner to allow divers searching for passengers better access to flooded lower cabins.
After local officials raised the tally of missing passengers from 16 to 29, the divers blew a first hole in the landward side of the vessel at 7.40am local time on Tuesday, a second at 8.05am and a third at 8.40am.
Officials have said four holes were planned along the 290m (950ft) length of the ship, which will give divers who are searching deep inside the submerged part of the liner a quick escape route if the vessel slips into deeper waters.
Divers were evacuated from the ship on Monday as it shifted a few centimetres in rough seas. Grounded on its side on granite rock yards from the shore of the Tuscan island of Giglio, the Costa Concordia stands in 37m of water, but 30m further out to sea the seabed falls away to 70m.
Divers in two dinghies were working in calmer conditions on Tuesday, but rougher weather is forecast for Wednesday.
The navy has created a 100m exclusion zone around the ship while using the charges.
Three bodies have so far been found on board and three passengers were found drowned at sea. Three survivors were taken off the ship at the weekend after the 114,500-tonne vessel grounded after smashing into rocks on Friday night.
On Monday night an Italian coastguard official dramatically revised the number of passengers missing from 16 to 29, reflecting confusion over passenger lists and tallies of survivors who were ferried to different locations. The German government has meanwhile said that around a dozen German passengers are still unaccounted for.
That could complicate the work of divers, who have used cabin lists to focus their searches on where missing passengers were sleeping.
Concerns have also been raised about security around the vessel amid fears that cash and valuables left on board by the thousands of passengers may attract looters.
A judge is due to decide on Tuesday if the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, should remain in custody, after details emerged of his decision to take the liner just 150m from the coast of Giglio, causing it to hit a rock that tore a hole in the hull. Prosecutors say they fear he would try to flee if released.
Schettino reportedly sailed so close to the island in a form of salute to the island for the benefit of an islander working on the crew.
As 300 rescue workers crammed into the tiny port of Giglio on Tuesday, one source said a salvage vessel that could be used to refloat the Costa Concordia had docked at the island of Elba to pick up supplies en route to Giglio.
The deputy mayor, Mario Pellegrino, said Micky Arison, the CEO of Carnival Corp – the owner of the ship's operator, Costa Crociere – was expected on Giglio on Tuesday to hold a press conference and view the vessel.
Tom Kington in Giglio
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 17 January 2012 08.47 GMT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/17/costa-concordia-divers-blow-holes
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