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US Coast Guard Suspends Search for Crew of Ship Lost in Hurricane


A life ring recovered by the Coast Guard from the El Faro cargo ship, that has gone missing during Hurricane Joaquin, Oct 4, 2015.
A life ring recovered by the Coast Guard from the El Faro cargo ship, that has gone missing during Hurricane Joaquin, Oct 4, 2015.

The U.S. Coast Guard is suspending its search for survivors from a cargo ship believed to have sunk in a fierce hurricane near the Bahamas last week.

The search for the El Faro and its 33 crewmembers - including five Polish sailors - has turned up one body, an oil slick and a variety of debris, including life jackets and cargo boxes.

Coast Guard officials say there is little chance of finding any survivors.

The National Transportation Safety Board says deep waters will hamper its plans to send divers to look for the sunken vessel, as the investigation into why it went down continues.

The El Faro was carrying cargo from Jacksonville, Florida to San Juan, Puerto Rico last week when it got caught in Hurricane Joaquin - a powerful Category 4 storm with winds as high as 215 kilometers per hour.

The ship sent out a satellite message that it was in trouble before authorities on land lost contact with the crew.

Officials think the El Faro may have lost engine power, preventing the captain from sailing clear of the storm.

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