Missing French submarine in 1968 discovered off southern coast: minister

French Minister of Armed Forces Florence Parly on Monday announced that a wreckage of a French submarine reported missing more than five decades ago was discovered off the southern French port of Toulon.

A handout made available by the French Navy and the Defense Ministry on July 22, 2019 shows an underwater image of part of a wreckage of the Minerva submarine as seen from a Remotely Operated underwater Vehicle (ROV), off the coast of Toulon, France, July 21, 2019. [Photo: EPA/Marine Nationale Handout via IC]

"We have just found the Minerva. It's a success, a relief and a technical feat," Parly wrote on Twitter.

"I am thinking of the families who have waited for this moment for so long," she added.

A handout issued on July 22, 2019 by the French Navy and the Defense Ministry shows the collect of the AsterX drone to analyze the seabed, off the coast of Toulon, France, on July 7, 2019. French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced on Twitter on July 22, 2019 that the French submarine Minerva that has been missing for more than 50 years has been located by a search team. 52 sailors were on board the Minerva when it vanished in January 1968. [Photo: EPA/ Marine Nationale Handout via IC/Sebastien Chenal]

According to BFMTV news channel, the Seabed Constructor, a boat belonging to private U.S. company Ocean Infinity, discovered the Minerve 45 kilometres from Toulon at a depth of 2,370 meters.

A handout made available by the French Navy and the Defense Ministry on July 22, 2019 shows a staff member during a work meeting with the Defense Ministry and the 'Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service' (SHOM), off the coast of Toulon, France, July 18, 2019. [Photo: EPA/ Marine Nationale Handout via IC/Sebastien Chenal]

The Minerve submarine was lost off France's southern coast with 52 sailors on board on Jan. 17, 1968. Since then, several search operations have been launched, but the wreckage has not been found.

The reason of the incident remains unknown.