Salvage begins on Costa Concordia
- 12 years ago
Salvage teams head towards the wreck of the Costa Concordia off the coast of the Italian island of Giglio.
They are expected to use large external tanks into which they'll pump fuel from the stricken cruise liner.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FIRE BRIGADE COMMANDER, CLAUDIO CHIAVACCI, SAYING:
"Today the salvage operation to pump the oil and fuel out of the tanks of capsized Concordia has started."
The move will come as a relief to the island's residents, as fears of a fuel spill grow.
If the ship's 2,400 tonnes of fuel and oil leak into the sea it would spark Italy's worst environmental disaster in over two decades.
Officials say the amount of fuel on board the vessel is equivalent to that carried by a small oil tanker.
At least 15 people were killed after the Costa Concordia ran aground and partially sank on January 13.
Around 20 people are still unaccounted for.
Travis Brecher, Reuters
They are expected to use large external tanks into which they'll pump fuel from the stricken cruise liner.
(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FIRE BRIGADE COMMANDER, CLAUDIO CHIAVACCI, SAYING:
"Today the salvage operation to pump the oil and fuel out of the tanks of capsized Concordia has started."
The move will come as a relief to the island's residents, as fears of a fuel spill grow.
If the ship's 2,400 tonnes of fuel and oil leak into the sea it would spark Italy's worst environmental disaster in over two decades.
Officials say the amount of fuel on board the vessel is equivalent to that carried by a small oil tanker.
At least 15 people were killed after the Costa Concordia ran aground and partially sank on January 13.
Around 20 people are still unaccounted for.
Travis Brecher, Reuters