Italian rescue divers said on Tuesday they have stopped searching for bodies in the wrecked Costa Concordia cruise ship after underwater conditions worsened, according to media reports.
Circumstances “no longer fulfill security conditions” necessary to dive, Italy’s civil protection agency chief, Franco Gabrielli, told the ANSA news agency.
At least 17 people were killed in the accident, which occurred on Jan. 13 near the Italian island of Giglio. Fifteen people are still missing.
It was not clear when Italian officials will resume their search for the missing people or if they will ever do so.
The civil protection agency said that it had contacted the families of missing persons in Italy and through foreign embassies to explain its decision, according to ANSA.
Luca Cari, a fire service spokesperson, told the BBC that the ship’s working conditions were no longer safe for divers, citing equipment monitoring the movements of the ship.
“The indications we received two days ago ... have led to a new analysis of the situation,” he told the broadcaster. “Therefore, the data has been studied by the scientific committee and this has led us to believe that it is no longer possible to work inside.”
In dry portions of the ship, rescue work can still be conducted, Cari said.
“Our rescue workers are still able to work there, so they are continuing the search. And we are also carrying on with the underwater search outside the ship,” he added.
