KRI Teluk Hading-538 Burns In Bira Bulukumba Waters, Kadispenal Make Sure There Are No Casualties

DOCUMENTATION/KRI Teluk Hading-538 during the "sailing pass" in the waters of the Thousand Islands, Jakarta, Thursday (22/7/2021). (ANTARA PHOTO/M Risyal Hidayat/hp)

Head of the Navy Information Service (Kadispenal) Laksma TNI I Made Wira Hady Arsanta Wardhana confirmed that there were no casualties in the burning incident of KRI Teluk Hading-538 in the waters between Bira Island and Selayar Island, South Sulawesi.

"It's true, the fire broke out at around 14.15 (Wita). There were no casualties," said Made Wira, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, June 3.

He explained that the fire incident occurred when KRI Teluk Hading-538 carried out routine patrol duties in Indonesian waters. At that time, KRI Teluk Hading-538 carried a total of 119 passengers, consisting of 62 crew members and 57 soldiers of the Indonesian Army.

"There are elements of the Outermost Island Security Task Force (Satgas) that were brought (in the KRI Teluk Hading), 57 people from the Indonesian Army. So, a total of 119 passengers, (contained) 62 crew and 57 (fighters) AD," said Made Wira.

The blackout process has been completed and is currently KRI Teluk Hading-538 in the process of withdrawing to the nearest island.

"Now it has been extinguished. Currently, the process of withdrawing to the nearest land is towards the Selayar Island," he added.

Until now, the Indonesian Navy has not been able to announce the cause of the fire. However, the Indonesian Navy immediately dispatched a team to investigate the cause of the fire.

"The investigative team will check the cause of the fire," said Made Wira.

KRI Teluk Hading-538 reportedly caught fire at around 14.00 WITA around the waters of Bira Island and Selayar Island, South Sulawesi. The position of the burning ship is at 899 nautical miles from Bira Port.

The Basarnas team from Bantaeng, South Sulawesi, immediately jumped into the location to help rescue and extinguish the fire.

KRI Teluk Hading-538 is a lander and logistics carrier belonging to the Indonesian Navy purchased by the Indonesian Government from the German Government in 1994. The ship was built by VEB Peenewerft, Wolgast, for the East German Navy in 1978.