Wreckage From El Faro Believed To Have Been Found
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BAHAMAS (CBSMiami) -- Authorities have found the wreckage of what they believe is El Faro, the cargo ship missing since October 1st.
A search team aboard a U.S. Navy ship used sophisticated sonar equipment to locate El Faro. The wreck is in 15,000 feet of water around its last known position within the Bermuda Triangle, just north of the Bahamas.
The National Transportation Safety Board said searchers must still use a deep ocean remote-operated vehicle to confirm the wreck's identity.
El Faro was loaded with containers and had 33 crew members aboard when it left Jacksonville for Puerto Rico in late September.
Hurricane Joaquin was churning in the Caribbean as a tropical storm, but the storm grew quickly, blowing past hurricane category one, two and three status before becoming a monster category four.
El Faro was caught in the midst of it.
The ship's captain last made contact October 1st and said the ship had lost its engine power. The 790-foot long ship listed and took on water.
Days later, the Coast Guard found one of the ship's two badly damaged life boats, a life ring and a survival suit with human remains.
28 of the 33 crew members aboard El Faro were Americans. Five were Polish nationals.
Debris washed up last week in the Bahamas, leading searchers to believe they were looking in the right area.
