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France 24
France 24
World
FRANCE 24

Brazil sinks asbestos-laden warship in Atlantic despite fears of ‘incalculable’ damage

The Sao Paulo aircraft carrier (former French Foch) hidden behind navy buildings quits the military port of Brest, on February 1st, 2001. © Emmanuel Pain, AFP

Brazil on Friday sank a decommissioned aircraft carrier, the Navy announced, despite environmental groups claiming the formerly French ship was packed with toxic materials that will contaminate the ocean.

The "planned and controlled sinking occurred late in the afternoon" on Friday, some 350 kilometers (220 miles) off the Brazilian coast in the Atlantic Ocean, in an area with an "approximate depth of 5,000 meters (16,000 feet)," the Navy said in a statement.

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