The death toll from the Costa Concordia has inevitably risen, as Italian media announced the recovery of five more bodies; 11 are now confirmed dead, and 24 remain missing, reports the AP. Divers earlier exploded four holes into the ship to allow for entry to previously inaccessible areas. The news comes as Reuters reports on a taped conversation allegedly between the coast guard and the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, in which he is ordered to reboard the listing ship he abandoned—and refuses. Among the back-and-forth, which was posted on the website of a major Italian newspaper and has not been confirmed by the coast guard:
- Coast guard: "There are people who are coming down the ladder on the bow. Go back in the opposite direction, get back on the ship, and tell me how many people there are and what they have on board."
- Coast guard: "Listen Schettino, perhaps you have saved yourself from the sea but I will make you look very bad. I will make you pay for this. Dammit, go back on board!"
- Schettino: "Please ...."
- Coast guard: "There is no please about it. Go back on board. Assure me you are going back on board!"
- Schettino: "I am on a life boat of rescue, I am under here. I am not going anywhere. I am here."
- Coast guard: "Are you refusing to go on board, captain? Tell me the reason why you are not going back on board."
- Schettino: "...there is a another life boat... "
He is then ordered to get back on board, and replies, "I am going on board." It is unclear if he did so, notes the AP. (More
Francesco Schettino stories.)
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