Indonesia found missing submarine smashed to pieces on seabed: 53 crew died

The Indonesian submarine that went missing on Wednesday was found smashed to pieces on the seabed in Balinese waters, the military said on Sunday, Yes confirmed that all 53 crew members are deceased.

“There were parts of KRI Nanggala 402, it was broken into three piecesSaid Navy Chief of Staff Yudo Margono. For his part, the head of the Indonesian army, Hadi Tjahjanto, told reporters that “the 53 crew members are dead”.

the Indonesian President Joko Widodo expressed his condolences to the families of the 53 trapped sailors a few hours ago in the submarine “KRI Nanggala 402” sunk during military exercises in Bali and whose rescue was presumed impossible.

“This incident is a blow to all of us. We extend our sincere condolences for this tragedy, especially for the seafarers“The president said in a message posted on YouTube.

The commander of the armed forces, Hadi Tjahjanto, said on Saturday that the presence of a slick of fuel and debris near where the submarine made its last dive Wednesday in front of the island of Bali were clear evidence of the sinking of the KRI Nanggala 402.

Admiral Margono said at a press conference in Bali that “if there was an explosion it will be broken“. The cracks gradually occurred in the structure of the ship as it descended from 300 to 400 and 500 meters (984, 1312 and 1640 feet) … An explosion was reportedly heard in the sonar ”.

The Navy had previously said it believed the submarine sank to a depth of between 600 and 700 meters (2,000 and 2,300 feet), exceeding its withstand capacity of 200 meters (655 feet), at which point the pressure of the water would be greater than the the helmet could withstand.

“With the real proof we found that would come from the submarine, we went from the phase of ‘missing submarine’ to that of ‘sunken submarine“” Margono said at a press conference where the found objects were shown.

The Navy noted that a power failure could have prevented the submarine from performing emergency procedures to return to the surface.

Margono explained that over the past two days, rescuers have found parts of a torpedo aligner, a container of grease believed to be used in the periscope, remnants of a prayer mat and a broken piece of a tube. of coolant that was reconditioned in the submarine in South Korea. in 2012.

The families of the submarine’s sailors hoped that there would be survivors. Indonesian President Joko Widodo had ordered that everything be done to locate the submarine. He also asked the Indonesians to pray for the safe return of the crew.

The KRI Nanggala 402, of German manufacture and diesel engine, had been in service in Indonesia since 1981. There were 49 crew, three gunners and the ship’s commander in the submersible, Indonesia’s defense ministry said.

Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago with over 17,000 islands, has faced increasing challenges in its maritime claims in recent years, which have included numerous incidents with Chinese ships near the Natuna Islands.

(With information from AP and Europa Press)

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