Italian coast guard officials on Saturday morning confirmed three deaths in the Costa Concordia cruise-ship tragedy that occurred on Friday night. Earlier, Italian media had reported eight deaths.

Among the more than 4,000 people aboard the vessel when it ran aground after hitting a sandbar near Italy's Isola del Giglio on Friday night were citizens of Italy, France, and Germany.

In addition, some British passengers are believed to have been on board, the BBC quoted the United Kingdom's foreign office as saying.

Passengers were having dinner when the 290-meter (950-foot) vessel ran aground. Orders were soon given to abandon ship as it began listing 20 degrees and started taking on water.

Here are some images of the Costa Concordia tragedy.

Ship wreck
The cruise ship Costa Concordia is pictured on Saturday after it ran aground near Italy's Isola del Giglio on Friday the 13th. Reuters
Cruise Ship Tragedy
Passengers arrive at Porto Santo Stefano on Saturday after the cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground off the west coast of Italy on Friday. Reuters
Ship wreck
More than 4,000 people were aboard the 114,500-tonne Costa Concordia when it hit a sandbar near Italy's Isola del Giglio on Friday. Reuters
Cruise Ship Tragedy
Passengers of the cruise ship Costa Concordia that ran aground off the coast of Tuscany on Friday leave a ferry in Porto Santo Stefano on Saturday. PA
Cruise Ship Tragedy
Passengers arrive at Porto Santo Stefano on Saturday after the cruise ship Costa Concordia ran aground off the west coast of Italy on Friday. Reuters
Ship wreck
The Costa Concordia is shown on Saturday after it ran aground near Italy's Isola del Giglio on Friday the 13th. Reuters
Ship wreck
People take pictures of the cruise ship Costa Concordia, which ran aground off the west coast of Italy on Friday. Reuters
Ship wreck
The Costa Concordia is seen on Saturday after it ran aground near Italy's Isola del Giglio on Friday the 13th. Reuters
Cruise Ship Tragedy
Passengers of the cruise ship Costa Concordia that ran aground west of Italy's Tuscany on Friday arrive on a ferry in Porto Santo Stefano on Saturday. PA
Italy