I still hope for miracle - Lithuanian president on missing US soldiers

VILNIUS - Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says he still hopes for a miracle that the four American soldiers will be found alive as efforts are underway to recover a sunken US military vehicle from a swamp at the Pabrade training area.

The soldiers and an M88 Hercules tracked recovery vehicle went missing during a training exercise at the Pabrade training area in Svencionys District on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the incident location was identified and the vehicle was found in a body of water at a depth of about five meters. It is not yet clear whether the missing American soldiers are inside.

"I still hope for a miracle, although there are probably many skeptics who believe that we shouldn't in these circumstances," the president told reporters at the Pabrade training area on Friday.

The ongoing rescue operation involves Lithuanian and US troops and Lithuanian authorities. Several dozens Polish troops with equipment are also coming to help.

All institutions are "working hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder", the president said.

"Minutes like this, circumstances like this, only confirm how strong we are when we are together, when we are part of the NATO alliance, when we feel the shoulder of our friends," Nauseda said. "We all understand that some accidents are simply unavoidable, they are part of our lives, we wish they weren't at all, but sometimes they happen."

US DIVERS ON THE WAY

According to Lithuanian Chief of Defense Raimundas Vaiksnoras, the slopes are currently being reinforced and a dredger is working at the scene.

"The main objective now is to remove the mud from the sunken vehicle and identify possible hook-up points. We are working and will continue to work non-stop until we can give clear and honest answers to those who are waiting for news the most - the family members," the general said in a Facebook post.

At the scene, US Ambassador to Lithuania Kara McDonald told reporters that more US military specialists are coming.

"We had a team of Army Corps engineers come in last night. We have a U.S. Navy diving team coming in this afternoon. So we are bringing more capability to the site," the diplomat said, refraining to provide more details about the incoming US troops.

SILT PUMPING CONTINUES

Ausrius Buikus, who leads the operation, told reporters that a layer of surface silt was pumped out overnight.

"We have visibility of up to three meters, but that visibility in the pond is still limited. (...) WE continue pumping silt out, which is in a deeper layer," the colonel said, adding that incoming specialists will help to determine the exact location and position of the vehicle.

"This will help us to assess our future actions during the recovery," he added.

According to the colonel, the operation is still being carried out under a short-cut scenario, and there is no need to install poles in the nearby lake for now.

"Sandbags are being placed to separate the main body of water from the smaller body of water where the vehicle is located. So far, so good," Buikus said, adding that it's difficult to say how long the rescue operation might take.

"We are very hopeful to see the results over the course of the day, in the evening. If the divers are able to get into the water and find the vehicle, we will have results in the evening. If not, we will work again the whole night," Buikus said.