An Italian official overseeing the search efforts of the capsized cruise liner Costa Concordia near Giglio island said Wednesday it would “take a miracle” to find any survivors from the January 13 disaster.

Franco Gabrielli told reporters that, given the time passed and the conditions, it was unlikely to find anybody alive. He said, however, that recovery operations will continue for the 17 people still unaccounted for. So far, 16 bodies have been recovered.

Also Wednesday, divers blasted several new holes in the ship's hull to allow easier access, while salvage crews continued attaching pumping equipment to the shipwreck in preparations for emptying the vessel's fuel tanks. Pumping and recovery operations will continue in tandem.

The captain, Francesco Schettino, remains under house arrest, accused of manslaughter and abandoning ship before all of the vessel's 4,200 passengers could reach safety.

Italian media quoted Schettino as saying he sailed his ship too close to the wreck site near Giglio island in a “salute” that was arranged and wanted' by Costa Cruises executives for publicity reasons. Ship owners have not commented on the allegations.