ROME - The Italian government on Friday declared a state of emergency on the disastrous wreck of cruise liner Costa Concordia.

Firefighters approach the side of the Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off the west coast of Italy at Giglio island January 19, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

There are fears of environmental disaster as sea storms may push the 290-meter-long ship, which ran aground last Friday killing at least 11 people into deeper water causing fuel leaks from its tanks.

A specialist team from Dutch company SMIT is preparing to pump 2,400 tons of fuels from the vessel tanks, which will take at least one month, according to local authorities.