VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Leak develops in Indonesia's 26 crew-carrying vessel in Indian Ocean - 

A leakage reportedly developed in Indonesia's fishing boat Bandar Nelayan 188 in the Indian Ocean, some 650 nautical miles west of Perth, Australia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received information of the leak on the vessel, with 26 Indonesian crew members aboard, from the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) on Saturday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately coordinated with the Indonesian Consulate General in Perth, which later communicated intensively with the Australian authorities to rescue the crew.

The Australian authorities have deployed aircraft to locate the boat that was monitored to being submerged partly.

The aircraft had fielded life rafts and made radio communications, but no response was received. The fate of the 26 crew members is yet unknown.

Rescue efforts continue as Australian naval ship HMAS ANZAC and two P8 Poseidon aircraft have also been deployed to help the rescue efforts. Assistance has also been sought from other fishing boats around the location.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indonesian representatives in Australia will continue to coordinate and communicate intensively with the Australian authorities in order to continue efforts to rescue the 26 Indonesian crew members aboard MV Bandar Nelayan 188," the ministry noted in the statement//ANT