Missing Argentine submarine crew have ‘just 48 hours’ before oxygen runs out after ‘banging noises’ proved to be false alarm
THE crew of a missing Argentine submarine have “just 48 hours” before their oxygen runs out – after “banging noises” heard by rescuers turned out to be a false alarm.
The German-built diesel-electric vessel only has enough oxygen for the crew to survive for seven days submerged, spokesman Enrique Balbi said.
The sub has already been missing for five days – meaning there could be as little as 48 hours to save the sailors.
The news came as banging noises reported by rescue crews turned out to be a false alarm.
Argentina's navy detected sounds about 225 miles off the coast after the ARA San Juan lost contact in the South Atlantic last Wednesday.
The noises, heard by two Argentine navy ships, sounded like tools being banged against the hull of a submarine, a senior US Navy official told .
But experts ruled out the possibility the sounds had come from the vessel, which was on its way to the base in Mar del Plata when it last made contact.
Navy spokesman Enrique Balbi said: "The sound footprint could not correspond to a sub's... it may have been a noise from a living thing".
The ministry had previously analysed seven distress signals reportedly heard on Saturday which also turned out to be bogus.
Mr Balbi said: "We've received the report from the company that analysed the signals - the seven attempted calls did not come from the submarine's satellite phone.
"We have still been unable to contact them."
It comes after it was revealed the submarine had reported a mechanical breakdown in its final communication.
Naval base boss Gabriel Galeazzi said: "The vessel surfaced and it reported a breakdown. It was therefore asked to change course and go to Mar del Plata."
He said the malfunction did not necessarily cause an emergency and added that the craft was navigating normally, underwater, at a speed of five knots towards the base when it was last heard from.
Mr Galeazzi added: "A warship has a lot of backup systems, to allow it to move from one to another when there is a breakdown."
The German-built diesel-electric sub, made its last contact on Wednesday, prompting Buenos Aires to launch an air and sea search with help from countries including Britain, Brazil and the United States.
More than a dozen boats and aircraft - including the Brit ship HMS Protector - joined the search effort in the South Atlantic for the sub, which has enough oxygen for seven days.
Authorities have mainly been scanning the sea from the sky, as storms have made it difficult for boats.
One of those on board is Argentine Eliana Krawczyk - who became the first female South American submariner.
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