A cruise ship with 4,200 passengers crashed this past Friday evening, leaving 6 dead and at least 16 missing.  Several Americans were on the Costa Cruises ship, Costa Concordia.

The boat accident occurred along the shore of the Italian island, Giglio, when the vessel struck rocks underneath the water.  The ship’s captain claims that his map did not show rocks in the area where the ship crashed.  The boat flipped almost all the way onto its left side.

Authorities say the cruise began shortly before the accident.  As a result, passengers had not received any training on what to do in an emergency.

Costa Cruises has blamed the accident on the ship’s captain, stating that he left the company’s approved route by driving so close to the coastline.

Our utmost sympathies go out to the victims’ friends and families after this tragic accident.