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American Couple Still Missing After Italy Cruise Ship Disaster

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. (CBS) -- A Minnesota couple with ties to the Chicago area is still missing after the shipwreck of the Costa Concordia off the coast of Italy.

And now the family says it is hopeful that it will get some answers soon.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller reports

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Gerald and Barbara Heil from Minnesota were the only two Americans still missing from the Costa Concordia. Their son lives in northwest suburban Mount Prospect.

Saturday evening, the Heil family posted this on its blog:

"The rescue workers believe they are reaching a portion of the ship that they haven't been able to get to until now and feel that it likely will produce more of those still missing. We hope that (Sunday's) search may provide answers for those of us still waiting."

Rescuers resumed searching the above-water areas of the ship on Sunday, but choppy seas kept divers from exploring the submerged part, where officials have said there could be bodies.

The Heil family's blog added:

"(Saturday) afternoon we joined some other people missing family members and were taken out near the ship and allowed to place flowers pretty close to the boat. We picked daisies for Mom and white roses for Dad. It was very emotional as all of the workers stopped what they were doing and saluted us all as we placed the flowers in the water."

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