Cruise ship aground off Italy, 3 dead, 69 missing; survivors describe

PORTO SANTO STEFANO, Italy — Divers have been searching the submerged part of a luxury cruise liner that went aground off the Italian coast in case any of 70 people unaccounted for might be trapped inside, a coast guard official said Saturday, as passengers described a delayed and terrifying evacuation.

Three bodies were recovered from the sea after the Costa Concordia ran aground off the tiny island of Giglio near the coast of Tuscany late Friday, tearing a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in its hull and sending in a rush of water. The ANSA new agency identified them as two French passengers and a Peruvian crew member but did not cite a source.

Passengers described a scene reminiscent of “Titanic”, saying they escaped the ship by crawling along upended hallways, desperately trying to reach safety as the lights went out and plates and glasses crashed.

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Entire story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/reports-cruise-ship-runs-aground-off-tuscan-island-passengers-evacuated-6-dead/2012/01/13/gIQA9kfSxP_story.html

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