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French submarine found in Mediterranean after 50 years

A French submarine named La Minerve, that has been missing since 1968 has been located by a search team. The vessel vanished with 52 sailors on board, near the port of Toulon, on the French south coast, in January 1968.

The submarine was on a particular military mission at the time of its disappearing.

The vessel was located on the seabed in the Mediterranean off the port of Toulon. French Defence Minister Florence Parly tweeted, “It’s a success, a relief and a technical feat. I am thinking of the families who have waited for so long for this moment”.

The crew of La Minerve in 1965. Photograph: STF/AFP/Getty Images

The vessel was discovered at a depth of nearly 1½ miles. There had been several moves before for finding this submarine, but all were unsuccessful.

The submarine was discovered by a boat belonging to the private US company Ocean Infinity, a senior French naval officer told Agence France-Presse.

The submarine has sunk within four minutes, and the cause of this accident has never been established. The families of the missing crew hope that the wreckage will give answers to all these questions.

Image courtesy: france24 .com / images are subject to copyright

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