Visually stunning but humanly heartbreaking is the cruise ship that hit a sandbar and started sinking on Friday night off the coast off Tuscany, Italy.

At least three people died and some 50 are still missing after the Costa Concordia cruise ship carrying more than 4,000 people (including numerous Americans) ran aground and keeled over in shallow waters during dinner time on Friday evening.The ship was a floating resort complete with spas, theaters, swimming pools and a disco.

“We are not sure of the numbers, we cannot exclude that some people are missing, in fact it is very probable,” said Ennio Aquilini, head of the fire service rescue operation.

“We were sitting down to dinner and we heard this big bang. I think it hit some rocks. There was a lot of panic, the tables overturned, glasses were flying all over the place and we ran for the decks where we put on our life vests,” passenger Maria Parmegiano Alfonsi told Sky Italia television.

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