The Chilean Navy has ended its search for three Paraguayans who went missing in a maritime accident in the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic region, 11 days after the incident. On August 21, the fishing vessel 'Ana Belén' sank, and four crew members went missing. One of them was miraculously rescued alive, but the other three were never found.
The missing individuals were identified as Joel Bogado, Fernando González, and César González. The sole survivor of the accident, Juan Andrés Rojas Casco, was found and rescued between the sea and some rocks on August 23, two days after the search began. It is reported that he testified about the whereabouts of his other colleagues at the time of his rescue.
Despite the Chilean Navy's decision to end the search, the families of the missing have stated their intention to continue the search on their own. The Honorary Consul of Paraguay, Juan Miguel González, expressed his sorrow, stating that while he hopes the missing people will return alive, "the fact that at least one person returned safely at this time is a valuable thing."
The area where the disappearance occurred is known for its extremely cold weather and harsh climate conditions. However, the missing crew members were all known to be experienced, veteran fishermen, which adds to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Paraguayan residents living in Punta Arenas, Chile, held a protest demanding that the government of Paraguayan President Santiago Peña provide the necessary support to continue the search for the missing. They raised their voices, stating, "Professional search personnel must be deployed, and for this, financial support is needed."
Some of the missing are from Caaguazú, Paraguay, and a fundraising campaign is underway there to help their friends. They plan to use the collected funds for the costs required for the search for the missing and have released a contact number for donations (0985-774-219). This incident is entering a long-term search phase amid the fervent wishes of the families and the Paraguayan community.
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