Italy is set to declare a state of emergency after liquid began leaking from a stricken cruise ship off the Italian island of Giglio, raising fears of a fuel leak and environmental crisis.

The Costa Concordia, which ran aground on Friday, is carrying around 2,400 tonnes of fuel, and rough weather on Monday caused the ship to shift.

That shift forced rescuers to suspend their efforts to recover survivors or bodies still trapped inside. At least six people died in the accident.

Al Jazeera's Paul Brennan reports from Italy.