Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian navy (TNI AL) is working relentlessly in its evacuation efforts to recover KRI Nanggala-402, a submarine that sank in the waters of Bali.
“Evacuation in the waters of Bali had yet to be conducted until now,” Rear Admiral Muhammad Ali, the chief of staff assistance of budget and plan, stated during a press conference at the navy’s headquarters here on Tuesday.
Several Indonesian submarines are still scouring the area of interest in the waters to recover the sunken KRI Nanggala-402, according to Ali.
“Hence, until now, our submarines are still there. Several of them are there,” he remarked.
Moreover, Singapore’s MV Swift Rescue is yet operating in the waters of Bali to recover the German-made body of the submarine, he pointed out.
Ali expounded that the remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) had retrieved some items from the location where KRI Nanggala-402 sank during the search and evacuation process to recover the submarine’s body.
“It is a hydrophone from KRI Nanggala, then some photos taken, and the torpedo was also found,” he revealed.
The evacuation team will make efforts to retrieve the small parts of the submarine since the ROV can only lift a maximum weight of 50 kilograms, he noted.
“However, we will coordinate to lift bigger parts,” he revealed.
KRI Nanggala-402, a submarine made in Germany in 1977, become untraceable in the waters north of Bali on Wednesday, April 21.
The joint search and rescue team has worked incessantly, with the aid received from abroad.
On Sunday, April 25, the status of KRI Nanggala-402 was declared as "sub sank" at a location where the sea was 838 meters deep, and 53 sailors on board had died.
Related news: Indonesian warships pay tribute to crew of sunken submarine
Related news: Jokowi thankful for friendly nations' help in search for Nanggala
EDITED BY INE
