(Los Angeles) The US military on Sunday announced the end of search operations for eight US servicemen, considered dead, who disappeared at sea in a shipwreck Thursday off the coast of California.
Posted on August 2 2020 at 9am 33
France Media Agency
“It is with a heavy heart that I decided to put an end to the search and rescue operations”, declared Colonel Christopher Bronzi, commander of the 15 e Marine Expeditionary Unit, in a statement.
The military, seven members of the Marine Corps and a US Navy sailor, were aboard an amphibious assault vehicle, AAV said, which sank Thursday at 17 h 45, near San Clemente Island, a hundred kilometers off San Diego, in Southern California, during an exercise routine.
The soldiers were dressed in combat gear and equipped with life jackets, but the AAV, a sort of large floating tank, weighs more than 17 tons and sank rapidly more than 300 depths.
In total 15 soldiers were in the vehicle. Eight had been rescued. One of them later died, and two are in critical condition.
The Marine Corps, US Navy and US Coast Guard searched over 2500 square kilometers using helicopters and ships to find the others, but gave up after 40 unsuccessful hours.
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident and while waiting to learn more, all operations on board AAVs have been suspended, General David Berger, commander of the corps of Marines.