The oxygen supply of the Indonesian missing submarine will be run out in 72 hours
Indonesian authorities said that the oxygen supply of the missing military submarine will be run out by early Saturday. However, they are optimistic about the search and rescue efforts.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Yudo Margonio told a news conference on Thursday (April 22nd) that the submarine would have enough oxygen for 72 hours during a power outage.
He added that “We lost contact (with the ship) at 3 am yesterday, so it could continue until 3 am on Saturday.”
The KRI Nanggala 402 submarine went missing with 53 passengers on Wednesday as it was taking part in a torpedo drill in northern Bali waters.
We have lost contact with the ship around 4:30 a.m., he asked permission to dive around 3 p.m.
“We are optimistic, we hope for the best,” added Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.
“We know the area, but it’s much deeper,” First Admiral Julius told AFP.
Some reports said the submarine lost contact after being allowed to dive into deep water.
The Navy said an oil spill found near where the submarine sank could damage fuel tanks or signal from crews.
Several officials said the submarine was built to withstand a pressure of about 250 meters feet. It was built in Germany in 1977 and joined the Indonesian fleet in 1981.
Oil slicks have been detected in several places after the submarine went missing.
“Second, the crew can dump the oil in the hope of floating (the ship). It will lighten the submarine.
The missing ship is one of five submarines operated by Indonesia. It was built in the late 1970s, and in South Korea it ended in 2012 with a two-year refit.
A navy spokesman told the BBC the incident was the first time Indonesia had lost one of its submarines. But similar incidents have happened elsewhere. In 2017, an Argentine military submarine traveling with 44 crew members from the South Atlantic went missing.
Its wreckage was located a year later and officials said the submarine had centralized.
