- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Missing Argentine Sub's Crew Informed About Device's Failure in Sept. - Reports

© AP Photo / Courtesy of Argentine NavyThis 2013 photo provided by the Argentina Navy shows an ARA San Juan, a German-built diesel-electric vessel, near Buenos Aires, Argentina.
This 2013 photo provided by the Argentina Navy shows an ARA San Juan, a German-built diesel-electric vessel, near Buenos Aires, Argentina. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
While relatives of the missing submarine's crew demand the continuation of searches for possible survivors, new details about the sub's technical state have emerged.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The crew of the missing Argentine submarine San Juan with 44 crew members on board reported in September that the submarine's snorkel, a device which takes in air from the surface and ensures submerged operation, failed, causing water to enter into the vessel, the Clarin newspaper reported, citing the Argentine Navy report.

However, according to the outlet, important parts were not flooded and the submarine was scheduled for repair works in 2018.

READ MORE: Argentine Navy Determines Two Possible Areas of Location of Missing Submarine

According to the newspaper, the country's Defense Minister Oscar Aguad knew about the report several days ago after an internal investigation had been launched.

A day earlier, Argentine Navy spokesman Enrique Balbi reported two possible areas of location for the missing sub, currently probed by experts. According to him, the searches are being complicated by bad weather conditions.

READ MORE: Argentine Navy Determines Two Possible Areas of Location of Missing Submarine

San Juan Crew's Families Take Streets

At the same time, up to 300 distressed family members and friends of the missing submarine crew have taken to the streets in the city of Mar del Plata, gathering around the Argentine Navy base, with the crowd stretching for seven kilometers (4.3 miles), La Gaceta newspaper said.

READ MORE: Missing Argentine Sub Reported Battery on Fire in Final Message

The protest was triggered by the Navy's November 30 decision to halt the weeks-long operation to rescue the crew of the missing submarine, continuing, however, the search for the sub itself.

People reportedly chanted "search and rescue," "faith and hope," "do not forget about the San Juan submarine."

"We demand the presence of President Macri. We want to listen to him, express our doubts and let him feel what we have been going through since November 15," the mother of one of the submarine's sailors told the newspaper.

The ARA San Juan sub stopped communicating during a routine patrol in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina on November 15 with some media reports suggesting that an explosion could have taken place on board the submarine.

About 28 ships, nine planes and 4,000 people from 18 countries were involved in the search efforts in an ocean area covering 557,000 nautical miles.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала