The search for a missing submersible with five people aboard has intensified on Wednesday, as more banging sounds were detected in a remote area of the North Atlantic.
The submersible, operated by OceanGate Expeditions, was conducting a tourist trip to the Titanic shipwreck site when it lost contact with the surface vessel on Tuesday. The Coast Guard and other agencies have been scouring the area with planes, helicopters and ships, but have not been able to locate the submersible or its crew.
The banging sounds, which were first heard on Tuesday night, were picked up again on Wednesday morning by a sonar device deployed by OceanGate. The sounds could indicate that the submersible is trying to communicate with the surface, or that it is experiencing some kind of mechanical problem.
OceanGate said that the submersible is designed to withstand the extreme pressure and temperature of the deep sea, and that it has enough oxygen and battery power to last for several days. The company also said that it has been in contact with the families of the crew members, who are from Canada, France and the US.
The Titanic shipwreck site is located about 370 miles south of Newfoundland, Canada, at a depth of about 12,500 feet. OceanGate Expeditions is one of the few companies that offer tourist trips to the site, charging $125,000 per person for a six-day expedition.
