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MH370 search: investigators examine Australia debris MH370 search: Investigators dismiss Australia debris
(about 14 hours later)
Authorities in Australia are examining material washed ashore to determine if it is related to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370. Authorities in Australia say material washed ashore is not related to missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.
The debris was found by a member of the public near the town of Augusta, some 300km (190 miles) south of Perth. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) examined photographs of debris, which was found by a member of the public near the town of Augusta, some 300km (190 miles) south of Perth.
Images of the debris have been sent to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), who are now investigating. The material was metallic and about 2.5m (8ft) long, according to reports.
"It's sufficiently interesting for us to take a look," an ATSB chief Martin Dolan told CNN. "We're satisfied that it's not a lead in terms of the search for MH370," ATSB chief Martin Dolan told ABC News.
Mr Dolan said the debris looked like sheet metal with rivets in it, but added: "The more we look at it, the less excited we get." On Wednesday, Mr Dolan told CNN the material was "sufficiently interesting" for the ATSB to take a look, but added: "The more we look at it, the less excited we get."
The ATSB confirmed it was examining the photographs "to determine whether further physical analysis is required and if there is any relevance to the search of missing flight MH370". Most expensive
The images have also been sent to authorities in Malaysia and the ATSB is expected to collect the material later on Wednesday. The images have also been sent to authorities in Malaysia.
The material was metallic and about 2.5m (8ft) long, ABC News in Australia reported.
The Malaysia Airlines aircraft was carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared in March.
Malaysia is running the investigation into the plane's disappearance, but search efforts are being led by Australia's Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC).Malaysia is running the investigation into the plane's disappearance, but search efforts are being led by Australia's Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre (JACC).
For the past two days, bad weather has prevented planes from taking part in the search about 1,600km (990 miles) north-west of Perth.For the past two days, bad weather has prevented planes from taking part in the search about 1,600km (990 miles) north-west of Perth.
A US Navy Bluefin-21 mini-submarine scanning the ocean bed has covered more than 80% of a 310 sq km (120 sq mile) search area in the southern Indian Ocean, without finding any sign of debris in water that is up to 4.5km deep. A US Navy mini-submarine scanning the ocean bed has covered more than 80% of a 310 sq km (120 sq miles) search area in the southern Indian Ocean, without finding any sign of debris in water that is up to 4.5km deep.
Up to 10 military aircraft and 12 ships are currently taking part in the hunt. The daily operation, involving some two dozen nations, is already shaping up to be the most expensive in aviation history.Up to 10 military aircraft and 12 ships are currently taking part in the hunt. The daily operation, involving some two dozen nations, is already shaping up to be the most expensive in aviation history.
Australia said on Wednesday that it would not abandon the hunt, insisting that the cost of the operation was not a concern.Australia said on Wednesday that it would not abandon the hunt, insisting that the cost of the operation was not a concern.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said if the current underwater search was unsuccessful, a new strategy would begin.Prime Minister Tony Abbott said if the current underwater search was unsuccessful, a new strategy would begin.
Defence Minister David Johnston has said that sophisticated sonar equipment will probably be used in the next stage.Defence Minister David Johnston has said that sophisticated sonar equipment will probably be used in the next stage.
"The next phase, I think, is that we step up with potentially a more powerful, more capable side-scan sonar to do deeper water," Mr Johnston said."The next phase, I think, is that we step up with potentially a more powerful, more capable side-scan sonar to do deeper water," Mr Johnston said.
Mr Abbott said the probable impact zone of the airliner was in an area of the sea floor 700km (430 miles) long and 80km (50 miles) wide.Mr Abbott said the probable impact zone of the airliner was in an area of the sea floor 700km (430 miles) long and 80km (50 miles) wide.
In a separate development, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that his country's cabinet had approved the formation of an international investigation team to find out what happened to the missing plane. In a separate development, Malaysian Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said that his country's cabinet had approved the formation of an international investigation team to "determine the actual cause of the accident so similar accidents could be avoided in the future".
"The main purpose of the team is to evaluate, investigate and determine the actual cause of the accident so similar accidents could be avoided in the future," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
Australia says that it is now consulting with Malaysia, China and the United States on the next phase of the search, which is likely to be announced next week.Australia says that it is now consulting with Malaysia, China and the United States on the next phase of the search, which is likely to be announced next week.
Mr Abbott said a new search strategy would be put into action if nothing was found in the current seabed search.Mr Abbott said a new search strategy would be put into action if nothing was found in the current seabed search.
"If at the end of that period we find nothing, we are not going to abandon the search, we may well rethink the search, but we will not rest until we have done everything we can to solve this mystery," he said."If at the end of that period we find nothing, we are not going to abandon the search, we may well rethink the search, but we will not rest until we have done everything we can to solve this mystery," he said.
"We owe it to the families of the 239 people on board, we owe it to the hundreds of millions - indeed billions - of people who travel by air to try to get to the bottom of this."
"The only way we can get to the bottom of this is to keep searching the probable impact zone until we find something or until we have searched it as thoroughly as human ingenuity allows at this time," the Australian prime minister said."The only way we can get to the bottom of this is to keep searching the probable impact zone until we find something or until we have searched it as thoroughly as human ingenuity allows at this time," the Australian prime minister said.