A fishing vessel named Heleno A sank in the waters of the San Matías Gulf off the coast of Río Negro, Argentina. Of the five crew members onboard, four were successfully rescued, but the machinist remains missing. This incident triggered a large-scale search operation, including an urgent deployment of an aircraft from Comodoro Rivadavia in Chubut to assist in the search from the air. The situation is reported to be critical, with time running out for the missing individual.

The incident occurred a few hours after the vessel departed from San Antonio Oeste, destined for the Port of Quequén in Buenos Aires province for dismantling. The Heleno A sank approximately 13 nautical miles from the departure port, highlighting the challenges associated with maritime operations in rough conditions. According to officials from the Naval Prefecture, the incident happened while the Heleno A was traveling in convoy with another vessel, Marina Z, when it encountered a mishap that led to its sinking in the Gulf.

Rescue teams continue to search for the missing machinist, implementing a comprehensive response strategy that encompasses both maritime and aerial resources. The use of aircraft aims to expand the search area efficiently, as rescue operations are often time-sensitive in cases involving missing persons at sea. The community and authorities remain hopeful for a positive outcome as they work tirelessly to locate the missing crew member.