Argentine navy says ‘explosion’ detected near last known site of missing submarine

The Argentine Navy on Thursday reported evidence of an event resembling an “explosion” in the south Atlantic close to where an Argentine submarine went missing last week, CNN reported Thursday. 

The “abnormal, singular, short, violent, non-nuclear event, consistent with an explosion” occurred near the location where the ARA San Juan was last detected, an Argentine navy spokesman told reporters, according to CNN. The finding decreases the likelihood that the 44 crew members might still be alive.

The latest report of an “explosion” comes one day after a report from from the United States of a “hydro-acoustic anomaly” detected hours after the submarine went missing, according to the BBC.

{mosads}Ships and aircraft from at least seven nations reportedly searched off the coast of Argentina for the ARA San Juan, which was traveling from the Patagonian city of Ushuaia to its home base in Mar del Plata.

The vessel’s captain had radioed in a “failure” in the sub’s battery system as well as a “short circuit” shortly before it disappeared, Argentine navy spokesman Gabriel Galeazzi said Monday, according to CNN.

President Trump on Wednesday touted how he made the order to help Argentina with its search-and-rescue mission.

The United States, Chile and United Kingdom have offered logistical support, The New York Times reported last week.