Argentina abandons rescue mission for crew of missing submarine

Argentina has called off the rescue operation for its missing submarine 15 days after a reported explosion apparently sent it to the bottom of the Atlantic ocean off the coast of Patagonia, The Guardian reported.

A navy spokesman said the search for the vessel would continue with global assistance but ruled out the chance of finding any survivors. 44 crew members were on board the vessel. The Argentine Navy launched an intensive search and rescue operation on November 16. The navy would continue to search for the submarine in waters up to 1,640 feet (500 meters) deep.

The Argentine navy said it could have been the sound of the submarine imploding.

Hopes of finding survivors had already dimmed with experts saying the crew had only enough oxygen to last seven to 10 days if the vessel remained intact underwater.

According to the Argentine navy spokesman, despite the magnitude of the efforts made, it has not been possible to locate the submarine. "It's another lie. They promised us that they would look for them until they find them".

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Mariah's grandmother Anne Edwards said the child wears braces on her legs and would probably not make it far on her own. Woods said he is also the father of the child's two brothers, who were in the home when the girl disappeared.

The crew of the ARA San Juan included 43 men and one woman when communications were lost, the newspaper Clarín reports.

"It destroyed the minimal hope that I had", Luis Tagliapietra, father of one of the crew members, told the broadcaster TN. The captain later communicated by satellite phone that the problem had been contained.

The search for the San Juan has employed some of the latest technology in one of the largest efforts of its kind.

During the $12 million retrofitting, the vessel was cut in half and had its engines and batteries replaced.

Relatives of the crew met with Argentina's defense minister and the navy chief Friday at the sub's naval base in the coastal city of Mar del Plata.