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Argentina missing submarine: Relatives wait for news Argentine submarine relatives fear the worst
(about 7 hours later)
With every hour, their chances of seeing their loved ones alive slip away. With every hour, their chances of seeing their loved ones alive slipped away.
While navies from around the world join in the search for a missing Argentine submarine, the stakes are high for the relatives of the 44 people on board. On Thursday, the announcement that an explosion was recorded near where the ARA San Juan submarine vanished meant that the anguished wait for families of the crew was all but over.
Their anguish is turning to frustration as the search enters a critical phase, with levels of breathable air on the sub reducing. For some, sorrow turned to anger.
Elena Alfaro, whose brother Cristian Ibañez is one of the crew, said: "I feel like I'm waiting for a corpse. The Argentine navy's report to the relatives could not be concluded because many relatives became frustrated with the spokesman when he mentioned the reported explosion.
"I feel like I'm at a wake. I also feel time passing and time is crucial. There were struggles and some family members voiced their anger at him.
"I don't want to bury my brother." Even before the confirmation of the explosion, the frustration of family members was boiling over.
It is three days since President Mauricio Macri and senior naval officers met the families at the Mar del Plata naval base. Elena Alfaro, whose brother Cristian Ibañez is among the crew, said: "I feel like I'm waiting for a corpse. I feel like I'm at a wake. I also feel time passing and time is crucial. I don't want to bury my brother."
After the meetings, Mr Macri tweeted (in Spanish): "I offer all my support to the relatives of crew of the submarine in these difficult hours. We will continue to deploy all the available national and international resources to find (the crew) as soon as possible."
More than 200 relatives, many of whom have come from other parts of Argentina, have been sleeping at the base. It is here that the worst maritime crisis to befall Argentina in decades takes on a human face.More than 200 relatives, many of whom have come from other parts of Argentina, have been sleeping at the base. It is here that the worst maritime crisis to befall Argentina in decades takes on a human face.
"The mood is bad, very bad," the navy's Victor Hugo Duga told local media on Tuesday."The mood is bad, very bad," the navy's Victor Hugo Duga told local media on Tuesday.
"At the moment there is only anxiety here. It's the worst thing I've had to face.""At the moment there is only anxiety here. It's the worst thing I've had to face."
He said the relatives had suffered three "hard blows" in the wait: The submarine not coming back at the scheduled time; when satellite calls turned out not to have been from the sub; and previous noises heard in the area, which were not from the submarine.He said the relatives had suffered three "hard blows" in the wait: The submarine not coming back at the scheduled time; when satellite calls turned out not to have been from the sub; and previous noises heard in the area, which were not from the submarine.
With the chances of finding the crew alive being reduced by the day, the relatives have held prayer sessions at the base and been attended to by psychologists. With the chances of finding the crew alive reduced by the day, the relatives held prayer sessions at the base and were helped by psychologists.
But these small breaks in routine do not disguise the fact that this is a waiting game - and despair is close for many.But these small breaks in routine do not disguise the fact that this is a waiting game - and despair is close for many.
"There are times when I don't want to be alive," the mother of one of the sailors told El Pais via the Whatsapp messaging service (in Spanish)."There are times when I don't want to be alive," the mother of one of the sailors told El Pais via the Whatsapp messaging service (in Spanish).
"It will pass.""It will pass."
Frustration and anger are coming to the fore. Some relatives say the navy was too slow to respond when the submarine lost contact with land, and wasted time before calling in international help. The frustration and anger erupted with the announcement of the explosion.
The siblings of Cristian Ibañez were among those to express anger. One asked why the authorities were using boats to look for a submarine, and another said the navy "lost crucial hours" by not treating the situation seriously enough at the beginning. While navy spokesman Capt Enrique Balbi addressed journalists in Buenos Aires, in Mar del Plata feelings among the relatives were agitated.
Some wept while others tried to provide restraint.
The Argentine newspaper, Clarin, reported that a man shouted: "They killed my brother... They killed my brother because they sent them out to sea (in a vessel put together with) wire".
Some relatives say the navy was too slow to respond when the submarine lost contact with land, and wasted time before calling in international help.
The siblings of Cristian Ibañez were among those to express anger.
One asked why the authorities were using boats to look for a submarine, and another said the navy "lost crucial hours" by not treating the situation seriously enough at the beginning.
Ms Alfaro said: "I don't want to hear how many boats and aeroplanes there are. I want them to tell us where our relatives are."Ms Alfaro said: "I don't want to hear how many boats and aeroplanes there are. I want them to tell us where our relatives are."
Some of those who are missing relatives are too young to know what is happening. Beatriz Gambazza, who leads a creche at the naval base, said two of the children there have fathers on board.Some of those who are missing relatives are too young to know what is happening. Beatriz Gambazza, who leads a creche at the naval base, said two of the children there have fathers on board.
But some still hold out hope. Lourdes Ledesma's husband has been to Haiti during hurricanes and visited Antarctica, so she has experienced long periods without hearing from him before. Read: What happens when a submarine vanishes
"You have to believe, have faith and pray," she said. "The naval family is very strong." The search for the sub has gripped Argentina, and people have come to the base to pin messages of support on a wire fence - it is both an emotional outpouring and a collection of prayers.
"They are going to come back for sure," said Malvina Vallejos, the sister of an officer on board.
And one dad, Jorge, told BBC Mundo: "I am an optimist and I know they are working as hard as possible.
"A submarine is made to not be detected. It's possible they are navigating here slowly."
The search for the sub has gripped Argentina, and people have come to the base to pin messages of support to the crew and families on a wire fence - it is both an emotional outpouring and a collection of prayers.
Bishop Gabriel Mestre, who has been attending the naval base, said: "Prayer doesn't only contain hope - it also includes strength to confront the most dramatic scenario."Bishop Gabriel Mestre, who has been attending the naval base, said: "Prayer doesn't only contain hope - it also includes strength to confront the most dramatic scenario."
In an emotive interview with the Argentine radio station, La Red, Luis, the father of Lt Cdr Damián Tagliapietra, was asked if he had heard anything about his son's status.
"Yes, yes, yes. Finally, yes. They have told us that they are all dead," he said.