FILE: The head of Italy's Civil Protection Unit has said divers have discovered what they believe to be the human remains of two bodies still missing after the wreck of the Costa Concordia
Record ID:
862383
FILE: The head of Italy's Civil Protection Unit has said divers have discovered what they believe to be the human remains of two bodies still missing after the wreck of the Costa Concordia
- Title: FILE: The head of Italy's Civil Protection Unit has said divers have discovered what they believe to be the human remains of two bodies still missing after the wreck of the Costa Concordia
- Date: 26th September 2013
- Summary: GIGLIO, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 17, 2013) (REUTERS) DAMAGED COSTA CONCORDIA AFTER BEING RAISED VARIOUS OF DAMAGED SHIP
- Embargoed: 11th October 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- City:
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA9SNPIT2G2XIR6W2TTXL1I4P1X
- Aspect Ratio:
- Story Text: Divers on Thursday (September 26) found what they believe to be the last two missing bodies from the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise liner which sank last year off the Italian island of Giglio.
The huge ship was carrying more than 4,000 holidaymakers and crew when it capsized after striking rocks on January 13, 2012, killing 32 people, two of whom had still not been recovered.
The head of the civil protection agency Franco Gabrielli told reporters the remains of the bodies were "absolutely consistent" with the two missing people, an Indian crew member Russel Rebello and an Italian woman, Maria Grazia Trecarichi.
However, only after DNA testing could their identities be definitively confirmed, he added.
Recovering the submerged bodies after 20 months under the weight of the 114,500 tonne vessel was "almost a miracle," Gabrielli said.
Russel Rebello, 33-years-old, and father of two, had only been working on the ship for a couple of months. Maria Grazia Trecarichi had been onboard with her 17-year-old daughter, who survived the tragedy.
After lying on its side in shallow water ever since capsizing, the Costa Concordia was hauled upright last week in a complicated 19-hour salvage operation which captivated international media.
Russel's brother, Kevin Rebello and the husband of Maria Grazia, Elio Vincenzi have been on Giglio several times to take part in memorial ceremonies, desperate to find their loved ones.
The Costa Concordia is due to be towed away from the Mediterranean holiday island, probably by next spring, and eventually broken up into scrap. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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