Two more bodies recovered from Costa Concordia

GIGLIO, Italy, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The bodies of two women were recovered Monday from the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia, bringing the death toll to 15, Italian officials said.

The women's bodies were found near the ship's Internet cafe, The New York Times reported. Twenty people are still believed to be missing. Only eight of the fifteen recovered bodies have been identified.

The ship was carrying at least 4,229 people from 60 countries when it struck a rocky ledge and capsized Jan. 13 off the Tuscan coast. Italian officials say the ship may have been carrying unregistered passengers, some of whom may have been guests of crew members, the newspaper said. Another possibility is that an updated passenger list had not been sent to the mainland before the ship capsized just hours into the voyage, officials said.

Costa Crociere, a division of Carnival Corp., has denied that any unregistered passengers would have been on the ship, the newspaper said.

Italian authorities say they have questions about Capt. Francesco Schettino's testimony after he admitted to taking belongings from the capsized ship.

Witnesses say Schettino left the ship with a laptop and other things.

He told investigators he returned to his cabin to retrieve his belongings before leaving the ship.

La Repubblica reported Schettino turned the computer over to a lawyer working for Costa Crociere. The Guardian said Costa Crociere has denied an employee accepted anything from Schettino.

Schettino, who is under house arrest, is accused of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning the Costa Concordia before all passengers and crew were evacuated.

The Costa Concordia struck granite, which tore a large gash into the ship's hull. Officials said Schettino gave the order to evacuate an hour after impact.