Shropshire Star

Argentina dismisses navy chief amid submarine investigation

Defence minister Oscar Aguad has requested admiral Marcelo Srur step down.

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A girl looks at banners attached to a fence enclosing the Mar del Plata Navy Base (Vincente Robles/AP)

Argentina has dismissed the head of its navy as part of the investigation into the disappearance of a submarine with 44 crew members on board last month.

State news agency Telam said on Saturday that defence minister Oscar Aguad had requested admiral Marcelo Srur step down while authorities look into what happened to the ARA San Juan, which disappeared on November 15.

Families of the 44 crew members of the submarine ARA San Juan march in Mar del Plata, Argentina (Vicente Robles/AP)
Families of the 44 crew members of the submarine ARA San Juan march in Mar del Plata, Argentina (Vicente Robles/AP)

An internal navy investigation led to the suspension of two commanders this week.

Authorities say an explosion occurred near the time and place where the sub disappeared in the South Atlantic. The navy is no longer looking for survivors although a multinational operation continues to search for the vessel.

It was sailing from the southernmost port of Ushuaia to the coastal city of Mar del Plata when it went missing.

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