The KRI Nanggala-402 Is Declared Sinking, The Search Operation Continues

DOK ANTARA/KRI NANGGALA-402

JAKARTA - The status of KRI Nanggala-402 from the sub-missed phase, aka lost contact, is now a sub-sink or sinking phase. This phase enhances based on a number of findings during the search process.

"Thus there is authentic evidence that is believed to belong to KRI Nanggala so that at this time we signal that from the sub-missed we will increase it to the sub-sink phase", said Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL), Admiral Yudo Margono at a press conference, Saturday, 24 April.

With the increased phase, Yudo said, his party will prepare all the needs related to the technical evacuation process. The priority was to save the soldiers who might still be safe.

"Where in the sub-sink phase we will prepare, we will do technical evacuation of the crew members who may still be safe. We prepare evacuations both in Surabaya and Bayuwangi. We will go into the next process", said Yudo.

"However, with this incident to carry out the detection, we will struggle hard, because the depth of the sea that we detect is at a depth of 850 meters", said KSAL.

As previously reported, a number of fragments of the KRI Nanggala-402 component were found during the search. Starting from the torpedo component parts to the base used by the crew of the KRI Nanggala-402 submarine to pray.

“Some of the last items (at the location) of the dive boat were found which are believed to be parts or components of the submarine. This will not be lifted to the outside if there is no pressure", said KSAL Yudo.

These items were confirmed to belong to the KRI Nanggala-402 after being checked by an expert, the former crew of the German submarine.

"From the experts, it is believed that the former ABK KRI Nanggala belonged to the KRI Nanggala", he said.

The fragments of this component are suspected to be due to the pressure experienced by the submarine KRI Nanggala-402. KSAL confirmed this debris occurred because of a crack, not an explosion.

“A rift, not an explosion. If there was an explosion, it would have all disappeared, due to gradual cracking in certain parts, when it (KRI Nanggala-402) descended, there were phases starting from a depth of 300-500. There are phases of cracks because if there was an explosion, it will definitely be heard, it will not be an explosion but rather a crack", said KSAL.

KRI Nanggala-402 was reported missing contact Wednesday, April 21 in northern Bali waters. The ship with type 209/1300 made in West Germany lost contact about 60 miles north of Bali waters.