What started as a Mediterranean cruise ended in a scene of panic when a luxury cruise liner sank off the western coast of Italy's Isola del Giglio.A harrowing picture is emerging of the chaotic evacuation of more than 4,000 people from the luxury cruise ship that sank into the Mediterranean off the coast of Tuscany, killing at least three and leaving 14 critically hurt and 70 still missing as of Saturday morning. More than 4,000 passengers and crew were successfully evacuated in 20 degree weather.

Italian Cruise Liner

"We were very scared and freezing because it happened while we were at dinner so everyone was in evening wear," Mara Parmegian told BBC. "We definitely didn't have time to get anything else. They gave us blankets but there weren't enough." The Costa Concordia, which was built in Italy and launched in 2006, set off from Civitavecchia on Friday for a Mediterranean cruise, carrying 3,206 passengers and 1,023 crew. As the ship slid between Giglio and the coast, passengers sitting down for their first dinner on board felt a shudder before the lights went out.

people being rescued from life boat

Despite an announcement that the ship had suffered no more than an electrical failure, diners became suspicious as their drinks began to tilt on the tables in front of them. Schettino said that the ship had struck rocks "which were not indicated on maps". He denied allegations that he was sailing too close to the coast. By Saturday night the seven-year-old Costa Concordia lay almost flat on its side off the tiny island of Giglio, about 18 miles off the coast of Tuscany, with a 50m gash in its hull. The captain was praised by shipping experts for trying to bring his stricken vessel as close to shore as possible. But there was also anger about the lengthy delays in evacuating the £375m ship. Italian captain Francesco Schettino has been arrested for manslaughter and abandoning the ship after a possible power failure on board ultimately caused the cruiser to crash into rocks Friday evening.