Cruise ship hits sandbar, 4000 passengers and crew rescued
The Carnival Line owned cruise ship Costa Concordia is lying on its side just outside the Tuscan harbour of Giglio, Italy. The ship seems to have hit a sandbar and all 4000 passengers and crew are thought to have been evacuated. Current reports suggest that there have been 3 fatalities and an extensive cabin to cabin search is underway to ensure that all on board have been accounted for. There is no explanation as to how the accident happened and the route of the cruise is one that the crew will have operated hundreds of times before. The weather appears to have been good and the sea calm but very cold.