Indonesian submarine with 53 on board loses contact

JAKARTA, Indonesia

An Indonesian military submarine with 53 people on board lost contact during an exercise in the waters off the island of Bali on Wednesday, the country’s navy confirmed.

According to an official release, the navy estimated the submarine KRI Nanggala-402 was at a depth of 700 meters (2,297 feet) when it lost contact.

The condition of those on board was not known.

Earlier, Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, told reporters that the military has deployed all vessels with underwater detection systems to do searches in an area around 95 kilometers (60 miles) from Bali.

First Adm. Julius Widjojono, head of the Indonesian Navy Information Service, said that the submarine lost contact early in the morning.

KRI Nanggala-402 was built at Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft in Germany in 1977 and entered service with the Indonesian Navy in 1981. It is a 209/1300-type submarine that is widely used by world navies.

In a separate statement, the Indonesian Defense Ministry said several countries, including the navies of Singapore, Australia, and India have offered to assist in the search for the submarine.

*Writing by Rhany Chairunissa Rufinaldo with Anadolu Agency's Indonesian-language services in Jakarta