Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos announced yesterday that researchers have found the wreck of a Spanish sailing ship that sank more than 300 years, and was carrying a large amount of gold and precious stones. Santos on his Twitter account wrote: “Great news! We have found the San Jose galleon. Tomorrow we will provide details at a press conference from Cartagena.” That sailing ship was sunk by British guns off Cartagena in 1708 and since then was at the bottom of the sea, along the coast near the island of Rosario.
Sunken San Jose Ship
It is believed to be on it at the time of the sinking there were 600 people, $17 billion (£11 billion) in gold, coins, silver, emeralds and other gems and jewellery and the personal wealth of the viceroy of Peru.
Santos said the treasure was now worth at least $1 billion (£662 million), although other estimates have said it could run into few billions.
Sunken San Jose Ship
