Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

Terrifying, chaotic escape from the luxury liner was straight out of a scene from "Titanic".

Monday, January 16, 2012

FRANCES D'EMILIO and NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press

PORTO SANTO STEFANO, Italy (AP) — The first course had just been served in the Costa Concordia's dining room when the wine glasses, forks and plates of cuttlefish and mushrooms smashed to the ground. At the magic show in the theater, the trash cans tipped over and the theater curtains turned on their side. Then the hallways turned upside down, and passengers crawled on bruised knees through the dark. Others jumped alone into the cold Mediterranean Sea.

The terrifying, chaotic escape from the luxury liner was straight out of a scene from "Titanic" for many of the 4,000-plus passengers and crew on the cruise ship, which ran aground off the Italian coast late Friday and flipped on its side with a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in its hull. At least three bodies had been recovered and divers searched the underwater belly of the boat for a few dozen more who remained unaccounted for. By late Saturday, the number of missing had dwindled to about 40.

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Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

Rescuers surround the luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia after it ran aground off the coast of Isola del Giglio island, Italy, gashing open the hull and forcing some 4,200 people aboard to evacuate aboard lifeboats to the nearby Isola del Giglio island, early Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. About 1,000 Italian passengers were onboard, as well as more than 500 Germans, about 160 French and about 1,000 crew members. (AP Photo/Giglionews.it, Giorgio Fanciulli)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia leans after it ran aground off the coast of Isola del Giglio island, Italy, gashing open the hull and forcing some 4,200 people aboard to evacuate aboard lifeboats to the nearby Isola del Giglio island, early Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. About 1,000 Italian passengers were onboard, as well as more than 500 Germans, about 160 French and about 1,000 crew members. (AP Photo/Giorgio Fanciulli, Giglionews.it)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

Passengers of the luxury ship that ran aground off the coast of Tuscany receive assistance upon their arrival in Porto Santo Stefano, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. A luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, gashing open the hull and taking on water, forcing some 4,200 people aboard to evacuate aboard lifeboats to a nearby island early Saturday. At least three were dead, the Italian coast guard said. Three bodies were recovered from the sea, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

Life vests of passengers of the luxury cruise ship that ran aground off the coast of Tuscany are piled outside a rescue tent upon their arrival in Porto Santo Stefano, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. A luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, gashing open the hull and taking on water, forcing some 4,200 people aboard to evacuate aboard lifeboats to a nearby island early Saturday. At least three were dead, the Italian coast guard said. Three bodies were recovered from the sea, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

Passengers of the Costa Concordia, a luxury cruise ship that ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, arrive on a ferry in Porto Santo Stefano, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. The luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, gashing open the hull and taking on water, forcing some 4,200 people aboard to evacuate aboard lifeboats to a nearby island early Saturday, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

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This photo acquired by the Associated Press from a passenger of the luxury ship that ran aground off the coast of Tuscany shows rescued passengers arriving at the Giglio island harbor, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. A luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, gashing open the hull and taking on water, forcing some 4,200 people aboard to evacuate aboard lifeboats to a nearby island early Saturday. At least three were dead, the Italian coast guard said. Three bodies were recovered from the sea, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo. (AP Photo/Passenger aboard the Costa Concordia)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

This photo acquired by the Associated Press from a passenger of the luxury ship that ran aground off the coast of Tuscany shows fellow passengers wearing life-vests on board the Costa Concordia as they wait to be evacuated, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. A luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, sending water pouring in through a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel early Saturday, the Italian coast guard said. (AP Photo/Courtesy from a passenger aboard the ship)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia leans on its starboard side as seen from the Giglio harbor, after running aground off the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. The luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, sending water pouring in through a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel early Saturday, the Italian coast guard said. The number of dead and injured is not yet confirmed Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo said. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

Capsizing of Italian Cruise Ship

The luxury cruise ship Costa Concordia leans on its side after running aground in the tiny Tuscan island of Giglio, Italy, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. The luxury cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Tuscany, sending water pouring in through a 160-foot (50-meter) gash in the hull and forcing the evacuation of some 4,200 people from the listing vessel early Saturday, the Italian coast guard said. The number of dead and injured is not yet confirmed Coast Guard Cmdr. Francesco Paolillo said. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

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Explosive Charges Used to Breach Italian Cruise Ship Shifting Halts Rescue Operations on Italian Cruise Ship

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