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'Explosion' detected near site of missing Argentinian submarine, navy confirms 'Explosion' detected near route of missing Argentinian submarine, navy confirms
(35 minutes later)
An abnormal sound detected in the South Atlantic ocean hours after an Argentinian navy submarine sent its last signal last week was “consistent with an explosion,” a navy spokesman said on Thursday. An abnormal sound detected in the South Atlantic ocean hours after an Argentinian navy submarine sent its last signal last week was “consistent with an explosion,” a navy spokesman has said.
Captain Enrique Balbi described the blast in the morning of 15 November as “abnormal, singular, short, violent” and “non-nuclear” and said it was detected at 10.31am along the route the ARA San Juan was following when it last made radio contact three hours earlier. Captain Enrique Balbi described the blast as “abnormal, singular, short, violent” and “non-nuclear”. It was detected at 10.31am on 15 November along the route that the ARA San Juan had been following when it last made radio contact three hours earlier.
The sound has been pinpointed to within a radius of 125km. Six vessels are currently attempting to locate the submarine, in an area that was previously searched. The sound has been pinpointed to within a radius of 125km. Six vessels are attempting to locate the submarine, in an area that was previously searched.
The explosion was detected by US sensors and by international agencies responsible for the detection of nuclear explosions around the world, Balbi said. Two Nasa planes are continuing to overfly the area in search of the submarine.The explosion was detected by US sensors and by international agencies responsible for the detection of nuclear explosions around the world, Balbi said. Two Nasa planes are continuing to overfly the area in search of the submarine.
With the seven-day limit on the ARA San Juan’s oxygen reserves having been reached on Wednesday morning, what hopes that remained were pinned on the submarine having been able to replenish its oxygen supply by surfacing at some point during the past week.With the seven-day limit on the ARA San Juan’s oxygen reserves having been reached on Wednesday morning, what hopes that remained were pinned on the submarine having been able to replenish its oxygen supply by surfacing at some point during the past week.
Relatives of those onboard have voiced their frustrations with the search efforts. Relatives of the crew gathered at the Mar del Plata navy base reacted with anger when informed by navy officers of the latest report.
Helena Alfaro was just one of many family members who congregated at the Mar del Plata naval base where the submarine was originally scheduled to arrive on Monday. “They didn’t say they’re dead, but that’s what seems logical,” said Itatí Leguizamón, the wife of Germán Suárez, a sonar operator. “We don’t believe they didn’t know from before. They’re perverse bastards who’ve had us here for a week.”
“I feel like I’m waiting for a corpse,” said Alfaro, the sister of Cristian Ibañez, a radar officer on the missing submarine. Leguizamón said navy officers had not been able to finish reading out the latest report to relatives because of their angry reaction. She claimed her husband had told her about an incident in 2014 when the ARA San Juan had been unable to surface.
“So much protocol, so much protocol,” she complained to TN news network, referring to the Argentinian navy’s long delay in advising the president, Mauricio Macri, that it had lost contact with the submarine. Argentina’s president, Mauricio Macri, has reportedly criticised naval commanders over their handling of the crisis. According to the Infobae website, Macri’s defence minister, Oscar Aguad, only learned that the submarine was missing when he read about it in the press.
Macri has reportedly criticised naval commanders over their handling of the crisis. According to the Infobae website, Macri’s defence minister, Oscar Aguad, only learned the submarine was missing when he read about it in the press. Defending the delay, navy chiefs said military protocol advised a 48-hour waiting period before beginning search efforts for submarines lost at sea.
Justifying the delay, navy chiefs said that military protocol advises a 48-hour waiting period before beginning search efforts for submarines lost at sea.
Also being called into question is the wisdom of having deployed a 34-year-old submarine to make the 10-day journey from the Argentinian port of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, to the naval base in Mar del Plata.Also being called into question is the wisdom of having deployed a 34-year-old submarine to make the 10-day journey from the Argentinian port of Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, to the naval base in Mar del Plata.