126 Americans were aboard Italian cruise True Religion Outlet UK ship that wrecked
Survivors, meanwhile, described a chaotic evacuation as plates and glasses crashed, and they crawled along upended hallways trying to reach safety.
Cnn reports that the italian captain, francesco schettino, was arrested late saturday and is being investigated for manslaughter and abandoning ship.The associated press reports schettino is being detained in a jail in grosseto, italy, to be held until next week, when a judge will decide whether he should be released or formally put under arrest.In italy, suspects can be www.canerods.co.uk held without charge for a few days for investigation.
Officials say the captain appears to have taken the vessel close to shore in a dangerous manner, reuters says.
“There was a dangerous close approach which very probably caused the accident, although it will be for the investigation to establish that fully,”Coast guard spokesman luciano nicastro told skytg24.Costa said about 1, 000 italian passengers were onboard, as well as more than 500 germans, 126 americans, about 160 french and about 1, 000 crew members.
By morning saturday, the ship was lying virtually flat off gigio’s coast, its starboard side submerged in the water and the huge gash showing clearly on its upturned hull.
Passengers described a scene reminiscent of”Titanic” -Which sank 100 years ago this april-Complaining the crew failed to give instructions on how to evacuate and once the emergency became clear, delayed lowering the lifeboats until the ship was listing too heavily for many of them to be released.
Helicopters plucked to safety some people who were trapped on the ship, some survivors were rescued by boats in the area, and witnesses said some people jumped from the ship into the dark, cold sea.Coast guard rescuers were continuing to search the ship for passengers.