GIGLIO ISLAND (Italy), Jan 28: Heavy weather forced salvage crews to suspend pumping thousands of tonnes of fuel from the wrecked Costa Concordia liner Saturday, though recovery operations continued and divers found another body.

With waves reaching more than one metre (over three feet) in height, technicians from the Dutch salvage company Smit and Italy’s Neri said it was too dangerous to start siphoning off an estimated 2,380 tonnes of fuel from the tanks of the Concordia, which ran aground January 13.

Salvage workers on Friday attached valves to six of the stricken vessel’s 23 tanks as part of the first phase of operations. It was unclear how long the delay would last, with weather forecasts showing worsening conditions Sunday.

Once they start, pumping operations are expected to take several weeks.

Many in the region are concerned about fuel leaks from the ship into the area’s popular recreation waters, saying a spill would be environmentally disastrous in one of Europe’s biggest marine parks.

Despite rough weather, recovery work continued and divers pulled the body of another victim from a submerged deck on the stricken ship.—AFP