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(CNN Spanish) - Chilean authorities expanded the search area for the Chilean Hercules C-130 Air Force plane that lost contact on Monday when it was heading to Antarctica with 38 people on board.
FACh Air Brigadier General Eduardo Mosqueira explained at a press conference on Wednesday that the search focuses on four quadrants that cover an area of 240 × 120 kilometers that will be reviewed within 40 hours. According to Mosqueira, this is equivalent to the distance between Santiago and Chillán and covers the width of Chile.
MIRA: Chilean authorities: The search area for the missing military aircraft is expanding
Mosqueira reported that although visibility is limited in some areas, there are good weather conditions to continue the search.
(Credit: Chilean Air Force)
Navy ships from Chile, from Argentina, private ships and planes that will arrive from the United States and Brazil, will lead the operations.
One of the Brazilian navy ships participating in the search has underwater exploration capabilities, authorities said. The sonars of the ship have a capacity to explore up to 4,500 meters deep.
MIRA: C-130 Hercules: what we know about the missing plane of the Chilean Area Force
Initially, the search is scheduled in six days, however, according to Mosqueira, it could be extended up to 10 days.
Relatives of the 38 people traveling on the missing plane were transferred to the air base of Punta Arenas, in southern Chile, where they will receive more details of the search.
air crash Chile