Pumping of Concordia fuel begins

Underwater pumping operations began yesterday to remove some of the 500,000 gallons of fuel on the Costa Concordia.

After nearly two weeks of delays because of rough seas and bad weather, the pumping got under way on the first of 15 tanks that are believed to hold around 84 per cent of the fuel. Officials say it will take around 28 days to empty the tanks.

AP