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High seas suspend Costa Concordia work

A satellite image captured by Digital Globe of the Costa Concordia, a luxury cruise ship that ran aground in the Tuscan waters off of Giglio, Italy, Jan. 13. At least 17 people are dead. EDITORIAL USE ONLY UPI/Digital Globe/HO
A satellite image captured by Digital Globe of the Costa Concordia, a luxury cruise ship that ran aground in the Tuscan waters off of Giglio, Italy, Jan. 13. At least 17 people are dead. EDITORIAL USE ONLY UPI/Digital Globe/HO | License Photo

GIGLIO, Italy, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- The Italian official overseeing recovery operations for the doomed cruise ship Costa Concordia said Sunday it will take 7 to 10 months to remove the wreck.

The ship ripped a hole in its side off Italy's Giglio Island two weeks ago, killing at least 17 people. More than two dozen remain missing.

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Franco Gabrielli said the search for more bodies was suspended shortly after midnight as rough seas shifted the wreckage. The ship was carrying 2,300 tons of fuel that could cause widespread damage to the environment if it leaks. Smit, a Dutch company specializing in salvage operations, said it had suspended activity until the middle of next week.

The latest victim to be removed from the ship was identified as crew member Erika Soriamolina Fani of Peru. Witnesses said they saw her helping passengers abandoning the ship, La Repubblica reported.

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