Fire Chief Steve Orusa is keeping a close eye on the rescue operations off the coast of Italy, where a cruise ship ran aground..
Besides heading up the fire department, Orusa is the director of the International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists Response Team. He spoke with 24-Hour News 8's Jay Hermacinski about the dive operation off the coast of Italy.
"Because the ship is unstable, it is very dangerous,” he said, “there's entrapment hazards and debris that can move. Nothing is stable."
The diving veteran said dive teams face what are called penetration dives, meaning they have to get inside the underwater sections of the cruise ship.
Orusa said that in itself creates a dangerous situation for the dive team.
Orusa said that in itself creates a dangerous situation for the dive team.
"They can't get direct access to the surface,” he said. “So now, if something goes wrong, you can't just go to the surface to get a breath of air. You have to follow you line all the way out. So whatever problem you have in that aquatic environment, you have to solve it yourself because you don't have time to get a safety diver to you."
Monday, divers suspended rescue efforts because the vessel began to move.
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