All presumed dead: US military ends search for missing marines, sailor
The US military has called off a search for seven marines and a sailor who went missing during a training exercise off the California coast last week, saying they were presumed dead.
The Marine Expeditionary Force said in a statement on Sunday that a 40-hour search operation had ended and all eight missing military personnel were presumed dead.
“It is with a heavy heart that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort,” Col. Christopher Bronzi, commanding officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in the statement posted on Twitter.
— 15th MEU (@15thMEUOfficial) August 2, 2020 ">http://
Search and rescue operations for the 7 Marines and 1 Sailor have concluded. All eight missing service members are presumed deceased. Efforts will now turn to search and recovery. All next-of-kin have been notified. Keep our 15thMEU families in your thoughts and prayers. @1stMEF
— 15th MEU (@15thMEUOfficial) August 2, 2020
The service members were aboard an amphibious assault vehicle that sank off the coast of southern California during a training exercise on Thursday.
A total of 16 military personnel were onboard the vessel, of whom eight had initially been rescued but one later died. Two others remain in critical condition.
The 26-tonne amphibious vehicle was armored and designed to carry troops from a ship to shore.
It sank more than 1,000 meters (3,281 feet) off the northwest coast San Clemente Island in waters that the military said were too deep for regular divers to reach the vessel.
More than 1,000 square nautical miles were canvassed by marine, navy and coastguard ships and helicopters, the marines said.
The Marine Expeditionary Force is the Marine Corps’ main warfighting organization. There are three such groups which are made up of ground, air and logistics forces.
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