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Update: All but two Americans have been accounted for and are safe.
By Miriam Raftery
January 14, 2012 (San Diego) –The United States embassy in Rome has announced that 126 Americans were on board the Costa Concordia cruise ship which struck rocks and sunk off the coast of Tuscany, Italy this morning. All were passengers, not crew.
Thus far, the Embassy reports that “there are no reports of serious injuries to American citizens, though we cannot yet account for all Americans believed to have been present on the ship at the time of the accident.” An estimated 40 or more people remain missing. Three deaths are confirmed, though none are Americans.
For details on the wreck and dramatic images of the capsized vessel, see http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/14/world/europe/italy-cruise-deaths/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 . The captain of the ship has been arrested for abandoning ship and manslaughter, CNN reports.
The vessel was reportedly two miles off course when the tragedy occurred. Divers are currently probing the wreckage and it remains unknown whether some or all of the missing may be safe and simply not counted amid the chaotic evacuation of the ship which was suddenly plunged into darkness and lurched onto its side, making some lifeboats unreachable.
The U.S. Embassy has established an emergency response team. Concerned Americans may call +39 06 4674 1 for emergency information.
Further information will be posted by the U.S. Embassy in Italy on Twitter @AmbasciataUSA and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ambasciatausa.
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