Divers find 17th body on wrecked cruise ship off Italy

Divers find 17th body on wrecked cruise ship off Italy

2012-01-29 00:02:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

GIGLIO, ITALY (BNO NEWS) -- Divers searching the wreck of the Costa Concordia, which ran aground and partially capsized off the Italian coast earlier this month, have found the body of a woman, officials said on Saturday. More than a dozen people remain missing.

A spokesperson for the Civil Protection Department said the woman's body was found in a submerged part on the sixth deck of the vessel, although an operation to recover the body is still ongoing. "From the information received, the woman who was found this morning is a crew member because she was wearing a service uniform," the spokesperson said.

The Costa Concordia ran aground and partially capsized off Isola del Giglio, a small island off the coast of Tuscany, on January 13 while it was carrying more than 4,200 people. The body found on Saturday raises the number of fatalities to 17 while at least 15 others remain missing and are believed to have drowned.

The news comes a day after Costa Cruises, the owner of the wrecked cruise ship, announced a compensation package for guests who survived the accident. The company said it will offer all surviving guests €11,000 ($14,500) in addition to reimbursement for other costs such travel expenses and medical costs.

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