January 18th, 2012
03:01 AM ET

Hope dims as search continues around stricken cruise ship

With bitterly cold temperatures and frigid waters, the chances of finding more survivors appeared to dim early Wednesday as about two dozen people remain missing from the doomed Italian cruise ship.

At least 11 people have died since the Costa Concordia ran aground and capsized Friday off a Tuscan island. As rescuers continued to search in the dark waters around the island of Giglio, many questioned the actions of Capt. Francesco Schettino.

Experts say chances of finding survivors are slim.

"I think you have to look at several issues. One of is just the hypothermia. If a compartment is flooded, even if there was air, at this point, most of them would have succumbed to the hypothermic problem of the water temperature," said Butch Hendrick, president of the diving safety company Lifeguard Systems.

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  1. Joey Isotta-Fraschini©™

    I am deeply saddened by this tragedy.
    It is difficult to imagine Costa's giving command of a major ship to a man of the character revealed by Schettino in his conversation with DeFalco and the coast guard.
    A Sicilian friend of mine said that Schettino was a native of Tuscany. A Tuscan accent is often intimidating in its purity to residents of other regions of Italy. Perhaps Costa officials were shy about asking Schettino too many questions at his interview.

    January 18, 2012 at 5:46 am | Report abuse |
  2. banasy©

    Or maybe they hired a moron.
    Both are plausible.

    My condolences to those who have lost loved ones.

    January 18, 2012 at 9:01 am | Report abuse |
  3. rooney©

    This keeps getting more and more sad, a true tragedy. Hopefully lessons will be learned from this awful event.

    January 18, 2012 at 9:05 am | Report abuse |
  4. Gary Campbell

    First of all, today's news stated that they weren't sure if Costa does business in the U.S. Well, I can assure you that they do business here. Crusing on the Costa Mediterranea and departing from Miami on March 26, 2007, my wife and I were on the eastern caribbean cruise, when we also had a mishap with Costa. On Friday, the 7th of April, we experienced the sinking of an excursion boat we were on in the Cayman Islands. Although Costa assumed responsibility, they were more interested in their reputation than us as passengers. My thoughts and prayers go to all the passengers and crew of this unfortunate tradgity!

    January 18, 2012 at 9:53 am | Report abuse |
  5. non fake s kel

    lessons of this mishap will be learned but not acted on. Sad for the famlies of those lost.

    January 18, 2012 at 12:19 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Dbi

    I am so very sorry for the families and loved ones. I pray Jesus Christ will heal the injured and give everyone strength to endure this terrible tragedy. Amen

    January 19, 2012 at 12:33 am | Report abuse |
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