Disaster

Rescuers Blow Holes in Cruise Ship

As missing toll rises to 29.

Rescuers blasted holes in the side of the stricken Costa Concordia cruise ship in a final attempt to get at anyone trapped inside. The number of people missing rose to 29, including an American couple. Six people are known to have died in the crash. The ship's owners blame Capt. Francesco Schettino for the disaster, saying he took the ship off course toward the island where it ran aground, apparently to come within sight of the head waiter's family home. After running aground, Schettino reportedly dithered to the point that his crew mutinied and began evacuating the boat themselves. Schettino is also accused of abandoning the ship before the evacuation is complete. He faces up to 15 years in prison for manslaughter.