LONDON: A submarine involved in a tourist expedition to explore the wreckage of the Titanic has gone missing off the southeastern coast of Canada, as reported by the private company responsible for operating the vessel.

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Reports indicate that two Pakistani individuals are among those missing on the submarine, constituting part of the five-member expedition team. The Dawood family has issued a statement confirming that two of their family members were on board the submarine and that communication has been lost.

Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman had embarked on the journey to visit the remains of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean.

The family’s statement expressed gratitude for the concern shown by colleagues and friends and requested prayers for the safety of their loved ones while also asking for privacy during this difficult time.

Shahzada Dawood, who is based in the UK and serves as a trustee at the SETI Institute, joined the Board of Engro Corporation in 2003 and currently holds the position of vice chairman.

OceanGate Expeditions, the company responsible for the submarine, released a brief statement on Monday, stating that they are mobilizing all available options to rescue those on board.

The US Coast Guard has not yet responded to requests for comment, but media reports indicate that search-and-rescue operations have been initiated by the Coast Guard.

The exact number of people missing has not been confirmed at this time.

The family of British billionaire Hamish Harding has also reported his presence on the submarine. Harding’s stepson initially posted on Facebook that Harding had gone missing on the submarine and requested thoughts and prayers. The post was later removed out of respect for the family’s privacy.

Harding himself had previously posted on Facebook that he would be aboard the submarine, but there have been no further updates from him since.

In a statement, OceanGate expressed deep gratitude for the extensive assistance received from various government agencies and deep-sea companies in their efforts to reestablish contact with the submarine.

According to OceanGate’s website, the company is currently conducting its fifth Titanic mission of 2023. The expedition, which costs $250,000 per person, begins in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and ventures approximately 400 miles (640 km) into the Atlantic to reach the Titanic wreckage site. The mission had been scheduled to start last week and conclude on Thursday.

The situation remains ongoing, and efforts to locate and establish communication with the missing submarine are underway.