COBRA

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Investigations and search for missing crew going on

The Chilean Navy started the inspection of the remains of the 'Bruma', which were found half-sunken near Santa María Island in the Biobío Region. The search for the seven crew members was continued by the maritime authorities, both day and night, with three aircraft from the Chilean Navy's Second Naval Zone, three patrol vessels, a tug, a service boat, and a speedboat that is assisting. Part of the investigation led by the Public Prosecutor's Office include the alleged collision of the 'Cobra' with the 14.7-meter-long 'Bruma' after the discovery of scratches and paint marks on the hull and propeller of the larger vessel. It was feasible that the 'Cobra' crew didn't notice the 'Bruma's presence:

Ship under investigation for suspicion of involvement in collision

On the morning of April 1, 2025, investigations were carried out on the "Cobra", with the aim of clarifying whether it was involved in an accident off the coast of Coronel, in the Bío Bío region (530 km south of Santiago),., in which the fishing boat 'Bruna' sank on the early morning of March 30. On the afternoon of March 31, the vessel was examined in San Vicente by specialized teams.The Public Prosecutor's Office also took statements from the 18 crew members of the "Cobra" between the night of March 31 and the next morning. One of the elements that raised suspicion was the position of the vessel at the time of the "Bruma's" disappearance, which coincides with the estimated area of ​​the shipwreck. Paint and other items such as wood, ropes, etc. from the "Bruma" were found on the hull and propeller of the "Cobra". In the Biobío region, search efforts by the Chilean Navy and the Public Prosecutor's Office have intensified following the sinking of the "Bruma" with seven people on board, even through the night with the support of the tug 'Galvarino' and a helicopter from the Second Naval Zone. Efforts will continue with the deployment of the LSG 'Talcahuano' , a P-3 Orion aircraft, an ROC, and a salvage team that will conduct expert examinations of the recovered remains, which were found half-sunken, while there was still no sign of the lifeboat. The seven missing persons are: Jose Luis Medel Sepulveda (boss), Jose Luis Medel Gonzalez, Juan Jorge Muñoz Balladares, Jose Fernando Carrasco Gonzalez, Julio Eduardo Gallardo Diaz, Carlos Hugo Escárate Ramirez and Jonathan Daniel Torres Saldaña. Reports with photos and video: https://www.publimetro.cl/noticias/2025/04/01/toman-declaracion-a-tripulantes-de-barco-presuntamente-implicado-en-naufragio-de-lancha-en-coronel/ https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2025/04/01/la-frenetica-busqueda-de-siete-pescadores-desaparecidos-en-un-naufragio-en-chile/ https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/fiscal-confirma-hallazgo-restos-lancha-bruma-e-investiga-evidencias-colision-1-4-2025 https://www.24horas.cl/regiones/zona-centro/biobio/fotos-las-imagenes-que-confirman-que-el-buque-cobra-impacto-la-lancha https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-del-bio-bio/2025/04/01/realizan-peritajes-a-barco-que-habria-chocado-a-lancha-bruma-en-costa-de-coronel.shtml