5 more bodies found in cruise crash

talian naval divers recover a body from the cruise ship Costa Concordia.

Tue, January 17, 2012 - 7:01 AM

Italian rescuers have found five more bodies inside the stricken cruise ship Concordia, raising the confirmed death toll to 11.

Officials said four men and a woman were found on the ship, which capsized after it hit rocks on Friday.

Judges are questioning the ship's captain, who has been blamed for steering the vessel on to the rocks.

Capt Francesco Schettino has been detained on suspicion of manslaughter, but denies any wrongdoing.

He has not yet been formally charged, but prosecutors today asked judges to continue his detention.

A recording of a conversation allegedly between the captain and a port official - recorded shortly after the crash - has emerged which suggests Capt Schettino left the ship before all passengers had escaped.

In the recording, on the Corriere della Sera's website, the captain appears to refuse to go back on to the ship to co-ordinate the rescue effort.

A man who identifies himself as Livorno Port Authority chief Gregorio de Falco can be heard repeatedly telling the captain to get back on board the ship to help the stranded passengers.

"Schettino, maybe you saved yourself from the sea, but I'll make you have trouble for sure. Go aboard," says De Falco.

The captain is heard replying first that there are rescuers already on board, and then that it is dark and difficult to see. (BBC)