Topic: Concordia: Search for missing officially called off

Italian officials have permanently called off the search for bodies aboard Costa Concordia - the conditions inside have became too dangerous for the divers.

"We have definitively stopped the underwater search inside the ship," a spokesman for the fire brigade on the island of Giglio was quoted as saying by AFP.

A total of 17 bodies have been recovered, and 15 people remain missing.

The captain, Francesco Schettino, remains under house arrest facing charges of manslaughter and abandoning ship.

I feel really sorry for relatives of those still missing. If it was a member of my family I would not give up hope that somehow they had survived in an air pocket and were waiting to be saved. I realise that is probably completely unrealistic given the circumstances but tales of people surviving earthquakes etc would make me feel very uncomfortable knowing they had stopped searching...Carol

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I feel really sorry for relatives of those still missing. If it was a member of my family I would not give up hope that somehow they had survived in an air pocket and were waiting to be saved. I realise that is probably completely unrealistic given the circumstances but tales of people surviving earthquakes etc would make me feel very uncomfortable knowing they had stopped searching...Carol

Carol.
My feelings too.
But obviously the safety of the divers has to come first now.
I cannot begin to understand the feelings of the ones who are waiting for news. Especially the Mum of the little girl. But at least she was with her Dad. (No consolation I know)
I do hope that the wreck site does not become a You tube Ghoul spotters idea of the perfect video to parade.

I can't begin to imagine how the relatives of those still missing must feel. If the ship had gone down in deep water as the Titanic did, then there is at least a feeling of finality - that no-one could have escaped alive. I agree with previous posts. Although it is now extremely unlikely that anyone could still be alive after all this time, there was still that 'million to one chance' which I think everyone following this tragic story, has clung to until now. The fact that the ship was so close to the shore and was only partly capsized - it felt as though rescue was tantalisingly close. However this takes nothing away from the team of divers who have searched virtually round the clock and have shown great bravery .... in stark contract to the captain of the ship.

Our thoughts must be not only with those familys who have missing relatives, but also with the official who was forced to order the end of the search. It is not a decision I would have cared to make. As has been said, I hope that the wrecksite does not become the venue for a circus of people just coming to gawp.

perhaps once the ship has been moved they'll find some bodies underneath? Not pleasant, but it'd give a few more relatives some closure

How awful to have to make that decision, I fell so sorry for the relatives of those still missing, the mother of the little girl must be devasted she hasn't been recovered. CG

This is inevitable news I suppose, but still so terribly sad for all the family and friends of the missing passengers. There would have always been that hope of a miracle - remote we know, but still that tiny hope.
I am sure we are all thinking with great sadness of the lost little girl and her poor mother.

I do hope the bravery and diligence of all the Rescue Crew and Divers is acknowledged by both the Italian Government and Costa Cruiselines. The Emergency Crew most certainly do deserve all our praise and gratitude for the terrible job and conditions that they have had to endure over the past two weeks. I really do hope that they will not be traumatised for life.

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Carol.
My feelings too.
But obviously the safety of the divers has to come first now.
I cannot begin to understand the feelings of the ones who are waiting for news. Especially the Mum of the little girl. But at least she was with her Dad. (No consolation I know)
I do hope that the wreck site does not become a You tube Ghoul spotters idea of the perfect video to parade.

I have never done this before... Quoted my own quote.

But.... I often look on K****cams. (my edit) Seeing the webcams from all the ships and ports. Husband just told me about the snow in Majorca so I went to look at the mediterranean cams. I could not believe my eyes!!!!! Isola del giglio is now on with a very sad shot of the Concordia laying on her side.

Tasteless or Informative ?????

Carol, good morning. I can't quite decide how I feel about the webcam. I suppose it is the most dramatic thing that has happened to the islanders and has had such a big impact on their lives that perhaps they are interested in watching the events as they continue to unfold, but I wonder how many of the local people ever look at the webcams?

If I had been on the ship I would probably be quite interested to look in occasionally and watch for developments.....Carol