There is still no trace of the Indonesian submarine missing near Bali, and time has almost run out. If it is not found soon, it will have to be assumed that the 53 sailors have met their grave at sea. If the submarine has already been crushed by water pressure, even that slim hope is gone.
Last Wednesday the 44-year-old submarine Nanggala-402 went out with the Indonesian submarine fleet for a torpedo drill, but the mission did not go as expected. It suddenly lost contact, and an intensive search began.
Indonesia sought help from Singapore and Australia to find the submarine, and India and Malaysia also joined. Most recently, a US P-8 Poseidon aircraft has joined the rescue operation.
Oxygen until Saturday
According to the news agency Reuters, if the missing submarine is still intact, the oxygen on board should keep the sailors alive until dawn on Saturday.
Indonesian military spokesman Achmad Riad told a news conference: "So far we have not found it... but the equipment available should be able to locate [the submarine]."
An Indonesian air force pilot said about six tonnes of equipment, along with underwater balloons, had reached the base to help lift the submarine.
The Indonesian navy said it is investigating whether the submarine lost electrical power and failed to take emergency measures as it went beyond its depth limit.
Object with 'high magnetism'
The navy's chief of staff, Yudo Margono, said an object with "high magnetism" was seen "floating" at a depth of 50 to 100 metres, and oil was seen on the water where the submarine was last seen. Navy spokesman Julius Widjojono said the diesel-electric submarine can survive to a depth of 500 metres (1,640 feet), but going below that would be disastrous. The worry is that the Bali Sea is more than 1,500 metres deep in some places.
An Indonesian defence expert, however, said there is still a chance the crew could be rescued alive, but if the submarine is even at 700 metres their survival would be difficult, because water pressure could crack its steel hull.
Citing Reuters and the BBC.
Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.
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