Argentina Vows To Uncover 'Truth' About Missing Submarine

Argentine President Mauricio Macri has promised that an inquiry into the disappearance of the ARA San Juan submarine will "know the truth" of what happened to the vessel and its 44 crew members.

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Macri urged the country not to seek people to blame until all the facts have been established, reiterating the Navy's earlier insistence that the search will continue.

Earlier this week, navy officials said an event "consistent with an explosion" had been detected near the sub's last-known location.

Announcing the official inquiry at navy headquarters in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Macri said the 34-year-old submarine had recently undergone a refit and was "in perfect condition".

"We should not venture into looking for people to blame," he told a news conference. "This will require a serious, deep investigation that reveals certainties about why we are witnessing what happened. My commitment is with the truth."

Meanwhile, hundreds of people made a pilgrimage to the Argentine capital in honor of the missing crew. "At the beginning we had hope, but we still have hope! God only knows," said one of the participants.

Some 350 people, including friends, relatives and local citizens, marched from the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes to the Mar del Plata naval base, where the submarine had been due to return last Sunday.

At the march, which lasted about an hour and a half, families of the crew carried banners bearing encouraging messages. "Submarino ARA San Juan, we pray for you, a country awaits you, strength at 44", read one poster in the mobilization.

The judge leading the investigation, Marta Yáñez, said it was necessary "to be very patient and to evaluate the entity of the information; I do not discount anything."