He said officials made the determination following the discovery of a strip of wreckage floating on the surface of the water some 1,300 kilometers off the Brazilian mainland.

他说，在距离巴西大陆1千300公里的水域发现了漂浮在水面的残骸之后，有关官员做出最后判断。

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But the boat soon sank. Hundreds of passengers struggled to hold on to the floating wreckage.

VOA: special.2009.11.11

He expects more wreckage to continue floating toward Hawaii for about five more years.

VOA: special.2011.05.24