Death toll at 16 for Costa Concordia disaster

GIGLIO, Italy, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Another body was recovered from the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia Tuesday as crews began pumping tons of fuel from the vessel, Italian officials said.

The body of an unidentified female was found on the ship's third bridge, bringing the total number of dead to 16 with at least 17 people still missing, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Military specialists blasted a hole into the submerged third deck of the ship to open up new search areas after two more bodies were recovered Monday.

Divers from the Dutch Salvage company Smit positioned defueling equipment along the capsized vessel to pump out some 2,300 tons of diesel fuel.

Removal of fuel was halted 11 days ago as the search for survivors continued.

The weather forecast for Tuesday indicated heavy winds and choppy waters.

The family of an American couple still missing from the disaster met with U.S. Ambassador to Italy David Thorne on Giglio, the island off the coast of Tuscany where the Costa Concordia ran aground January 13.