The Costa Concordia on its side (photo courtesy of Creative Commons).

Sixteen people are missing and presumed dead. Their families have been notified of the decision.

The ship carried more than 4,200 passengers and crew. Seventeen bodies have been recovered since the Jan. 13 accident when the cruise ship ran aground off Italy. According to the AP, the last time a person was found alive was Jan. 15.

The next step for the ship is a monthlong process of pumping out 500,000 gallons of fuel before salvaging work can begin.

Reuters reported that the ship’s captain, Francesco Schettino, is under house arrest and has been blamed for causing the accident.

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Reach executive producer Agnus Dei Farrant here.