Captain left ship well before passengers—prosecutor

ROME—The captain of the Costa Concordia left the stricken cruise liner “well before” the last passengers were evacuated, the prosecutor in charge of investigating the disaster said Sunday.

Asked on the news channel SkyTG24 whether captain Francesco Schettino, arrested Saturday for multiple homicide, had left the liner “well before all the passengers were evacuated,” prosecutor Francesco Verusio replied: “Unfortunately I can confirm that.”

The prosecutor also indicated that the ship “was not on the right course,” adding that the captain was on the bridge and “therefore responsible for operations.”

He said the possible responsibility of other persons apart from the captain and his number two, Ciro Ambrosio, was also being investigated.

Asked whether the crew were not properly prepared, Verusio said “It was rather the system of command which did not function as it should have done.”

Italian media reports have said the captain was on shore around 11:40 p.m. (2240 GMT) Friday while the last passengers were not evacuated until 0500 GMT Saturday.

Ennio Aquilino, in charge of the rescue operation, told AFP Saturday: “The last person we took off the ship around 6 a.m. (0500 GMT) had a broken leg.”