The Indonesian navy lost contact, Wednesday, April 21 in the morning, with a submarine of its fleet, after exercises off Bali, announced the military authorities. Fifty-three people are on board. An oil slick was spotted in the area, the Indonesian defense ministry reported. “Around 7 am, the helicopter searches revealed an oil slick at the position where the submarine plunged”, can we read in the ministry’s press release.
Jakarta has sent warships to the area and called for help from Singapore and Australia, Indonesian Armed Forces Commander Hadi Tjahjanto said. The submarine “Is at a depth of 700 meters” north of the island of Bali “With 53 crew members on board”, he clarified.
The submarine, the KRI Nanggala 402, did not reconnect with its base after 3 a.m. local time (9 p.m. KST, Tuesday), Navy spokesman First Admiral Julius Widjojono said. Marine “Is currently conducting research”. “We know the area, but it is quite deep”, he added.
The German-made submarine was to participate in maneuvers, including torpedo fire. The Indonesian Navy has a fleet of five German and South Korean-built submarines. The KRI Nanggala 402 was built in 1978, according to a government website, and was later modernized.