ALL 53 CREW MEMBERS DEAD, INDONESIAN MILITARY CONFIRMS

Sun 25 April 2021:

The Indonesian naval forces have discovered the missing KRI Nanggala-402 submarine and it is confirmed that all 53 crew members have died, Indonesian military chief Hadi Tjahjanto and Navy Chief of Staff Yudo Margono said on Sunday.

“Based on the evidence, it can be stated that the KRI Nanggala has sunk and all of its crew have died,” military chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto told reporters.

The submarine – one of five in Indonesia’s fleet – disappeared off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali.

“There were parts of KRI Nanggala-402 – it was broken into three pieces,” said Navy Chief of Staff Yudo Margono. “The hull of the ship, the stern of the ship, and the main parts are all separated, with the main part found cracked.”

According to the news agency, the wreckage of the missing submarine was located on the sea floor off Bali Island.

President Joko Widodo earlier confirmed the discovery in the Bali Sea and sent the families of the victims his condolences.

“All of us Indonesians express our deep sorrow over this tragedy, especially to the families of the submarine crew.”

On Saturday, the navy said fragments of the submarine, including items from inside the vessel, had been retrieved but its location had yet to be confirmed. Objects – including prayer mat fragments and a bottle of periscope lubricant were found near the submarine’s last known location.

The submarine lost contact with the Indonesian navy on Wednesday after a training drill near Bali. Local media reported that sailors of the missing submarine had oxygen supply until Saturday.

On Saturday, rescuers discovered debris from inside the submarine in the waters near the island.

A number of countries, including Russia, the United States, Germany, France, India, Turkey and Australia, have offered assistance to Indonesia in an operation to find the submarine.

Photo: A military officer shows a life vest from the sunken Indonesian navy submarine during a press conference on Sunday.