Another body discovered aboard toppled Concordia

[January 24, 2012]  ROME (AP) -- Officials say divers searching the toppled Costa Concordia have discovered another body in the submerged cruise ship.

The discovery on the third floor deck brings to 16 the number of bodies found since the Jan. 13 grounding. Officials at the Tuscan prefect's office said Tuesday they couldn't immediately confirm Italian news reports that the body was that of a woman.

The discovery was made as a large platform carrying a crane and other equipment hitched itself to the shipwreck, signaling the start of preliminary operations to remove a half-million gallons of fuel from the ship's tanks.

Actual pumping of the oil isn't expected to begin until Saturday, and will continue in tandem with search and rescue operations.

[Associated Press]

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