Post date: Mar 26, 2012 5:41:52 PM
GIGLIO, ITALY (MARCH 26, 2012) (REUTERS) - Rescue teams recovered five bodies from the wreck of the Costa Concordia cruise liner on Monday (March 26), after working on extensive preparations since the bodies were discovered on Thursday (March 22).
Family members of those still missing arrive in Giglio hoping that the five bodies recovered today will soon be identified so they can finally take their family members home to rest.
The giant vessel capsized off Giglio after hitting rocks on January 13. The total number of confirmed dead in the cruise ship tragedy arrived at 30, with two people yet to be accounted for.
The location of the bodies, in a narrow area between the hull and rocks, made the operations particularly challenging and rescue workers towed the bodies from a small dinghy towards a larger launch. Emergency teams from the fire services, marines, coastguards and police worked together on the rescue operations.
Some family members of those still missing came to Giglio hoping for some news.
"Well I have a very strong feeling this time because they have retrieved the five bodies that have been located in the past days and I feel this time we should have some news because that's the exact place location where my brother was last seen so I am very sure about it. So I hope this time we have some news. We'll just have to wait for the DNA test results and then - hopefully - another week we have to wait," said Kevin Rebello, brother of one of the Indian crew members of the cruise ship.
"I have been coming regularly to Giglio, I've stayed here for quite some time. So I hope that all this waiting will pay off and that I can have my brother back and take him home," he added.
Costa Cruises said in a statement that salvage companies Smit and Tito Neri would now monitor safety in the area around the ship in a "caretaking" phase, expected to last up to two months, before the removal of the vessel began.
Six working plans have been submitted for the lucrative contract to remove the wreck, which is expected to take up to a year. Costa Cruises said the best plan would be selected and announced in April.