"Claustrophobic" photos reveal the cramped size of the submarine that disappeared during a Titanic tour.
Around one hour and 45 minutes into its dive, the US Coast Guard declared the inability to establish contact with the small submarine, which is currently missing somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.
OceanGate, the tour company coordinating the expedition, reassured that they were exploring all possible avenues to rescue the five individuals on board the submersible.
Photos have surfaced showcasing the submarine's compact dimensions and amazing people worldwide.
Watch As A Journalist Who Has Been On The Now-Missing Submarine For A Titanic Expedition Explains What It's Like To Be On It…
The search operation, which includes teams from the United States and Canada, is urgently trying to locate the small vessel.
The submersible, measuring 263 inches x 110 inches x 98 inches, approximately the size of a minivan, disappeared while exploring the Titanic's underwater resting site.
The submersible that is currently missing is referred to as the Titan.
The passengers inside the vessel are securely restrained, making it extremely challenging to escape in emergencies.
David Pogue, a CBS journalist who had previously embarked on a journey to the Titanic in the small submersible, has disclosed limited options if something needs clarification.
He tells the BBC: "There's no backup, there's no escape pod. It's get to the surface or die."
Communication with the submersible is additionally difficult, as it lacks a GPS, and the vessel can solely receive text messages transmitted through its support ship, which needs to be directly positioned above the sub for effective communication.
Snippets from the CBS documentary showcasing the submersible have been circulating on social media, attracting interest due to its unconventional design.
On Twitter, one person says: "Y'all please watch this. It's a CBS story that aired a while back about that submarine that is now missing. The creators of that missing submarine are DEEPLY unserious."
A second adds: "The PlayStation controller and the one button are the strongest indicators that no national government had oversight of this thing."
Certain social media users are expressing disbelief regarding the idea of willingly entering such a confined space. One individual questions the allure of spending hours inside a sealed shut submarine that can only be opened from the outside.
They write: "I just can't imagine paying $200k or whatever to spend 10 hours in this thing – which is bolted shut and can only be opened from the outside – with four other people to travel to the bottom of the sea for a quick glimpse of a watery gravesite."
Another person comments: "This thing is tiny. Can't imagine how scary it must be."
Government agencies, the navies of the United States and Canada, and commercial deep-sea companies are collaborating in the search and rescue operation.
The five individuals aboard the submersible have approximately 96 hours of air supply, and reports suggest that their oxygen is projected to deplete by Thursday morning.
Nevertheless, even if the submersible is miraculously located and its occupants are found alive, experts caution that a recovery mission near the Titanic wreckage will present immense challenges.
Retired UK Navy rear admiral Chris Parry explains to Sky News: "The actual nature of the seabed is very undulating."
"Titanic herself lies in a trench. There's lots of debris around."
"So trying to differentiate with sonar in particular and trying to target the area you want to search in with another submersible is going to be very difficult indeed."
While the search operation persists, hopes endure for a successful outcome, despite the complexities and risks of navigating the Atlantic Ocean's perilous depths.
