The U.S. Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle sank and killed 9 people. The military has confirmed the location of the vehicle and the victims
China News Agency, San Francisco, August 4th. The US Marine Corps announced on the 4th local time that the military search team has confirmed the location of the amphibious assault vehicle and the remains of the victims that sank near San Clemente Island last week. Salvage work will start this weekend.
"Los Angeles Times" reported that the staff completed the search task by remotely operating the underwater video system. National Broadcasting Corporation quoted the US Marine Corps as saying that the vehicle involved was located at a depth of about 117 meters, which was shallower than the previous estimate of about 183 meters. Relevant search and rescue equipment will be in place this weekend, and it is expected that the salvage of the remains of the eight victims will be carried out by then, and the remains of the deceased will be taken away with "dignity".
The sinking of an amphibious assault vehicle on the northwestern part of San Clemente Island off the coast of Southern California on July 30 killed 9 people. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Joseph Osterman said that at the time of the incident, they had just completed their routine training and more than a dozen amphibious assault vehicles were returning to the warship. Defense officials said that at that time, 16 people were in the amphibious assault vehicle involved. Osterman said that after the accident, the personnel on the amphibious assault vehicle sent a distress signal to their companions in other vehicles. Two amphibious assault vehicles and the personnel on the accompanying ship provided rescue to the vehicles involved.
In addition to the eight people who will be salvaged from the seabed, on July 30, the 20-year-old soldier Guillermo Perez was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. "Los Angeles Times" reported that despite the two-day search and rescue, the missing 8 people were not found. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Team suspended the search and rescue in the morning on the 2nd and announced that the "presumed" missing soldier was dead.
The Marine Corps said the age of the dead ranged from 18 to 23. Fox News reported that when the vehicle sank, soldiers were wearing body armor and buoyancy vests and other combat equipment.
The Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle entered service in 1972 and has been involved in three "unfortunate incidents" around San Diego in the past 10 years. In 2017, an amphibious assault vehicle at Pendleton Barracks crashed into a gas pipeline, causing 14 marines and a sailor to be severely burned and sent to hospital. In 2011, a Marine was killed when an amphibious assault vehicle sank. (Finish)