Missing French submarine in 1968 discovered off southern coast
2019-07-23
A handout issued July 22, 2019, made available by the French Navy and the Defense Ministry, shows an underwater image of part of a wreckage of the Minerva submarine as seen from a remotely operated underwater vehicle, off the coast of Toulon, France, July 21, 2019. [Photo/IC]
PARIS -- French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly on Monday announced that a wreckage of a French submarine reported missing more that five decades ago was discovered off the southern French port of Toulon.
"We have just found the Minerva. It's a success, a relief and a technical feat," Parly wrote on Twitter.
"I am thinking of the families who have waited for this moment for so long," she added.
According to BFMTV news channel, the Seabed Constructor, a boat belonging to private US company Ocean Infinity, discovered the Minerve 45 kilometres from Toulon at a depth of 2,370 meters.
The Minerve submarine was lost off France's southern coast with 52 sailors on board on Jan 17, 1968. Since then, several search operations have been launched, but the wreckage has not been found.
