Indonesian submarine goes missing during naval exercises, 53 on board

JAKARTA: Some 400 personnel and two warships are searching for Indonesia’s submarine with 53 crew aboard. Contact was lost with the vessel during naval exercises off the coast of Bali on Wednesday.

Quoting AP, Dawn said that the German-built KRI Nanggala 402 was scheduled to do live torpedo exercises when it asked for permission to dive early on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

Indonesia has also sent out an international distress signal, and “several countries have responded and are ready to help including Singapore, Australia and India,” the defence ministry said.

There were 53 crew aboard the vessel, which was believed to be in waters about 700 metres (2,300 feet) deep.

“After permission was given according to the procedure, the submarine lost contact and could not be reached,” the defence ministry said.

(courtesy Dawn.com)