ROME — Italian prosecutors have opened an investigation into the disappearance of the bell from the capsized cruise ship Costa Concordia.

Franco Gabrielli, Italy’s national official for search and salvage efforts, told reporters Thursday when he visited Giglio island the bell disappeared several days ago.

He said a search was on to find the bell, which hung off one end of the ship and was inscribed with the vessel’s name. The bell hung off the half of the wreck under the sea.

The Concordia struck a reef on Jan. 13 and capsized near Giglio’s port. Salvage crew and divers work daily in or near the wreckage to remove fuel or search for seven missing people and presumed dead. Twenty-five others perished.