VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta. Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva on Wednesday extended her condolences over the tragic sinking of submarine KRI Nanggala-402 in the Bali sea.

"Let us express our deep condolences over the tragic incident involving the Indonesian submarine KRI Nanggala-402, which sank in the Bali waters. This is so large (a) tragedy. We express our sympathy for the bereaved families," she said at a press conference in Jakarta.

During a telephonic conversation on Sunday (April 25, 2021), Russian President Vladimir Putin had extended his condolences to President Joko Widodo over the death of the submarine’s crew and expressed sympathy for the bereaved families, she added.

The ambassador said such an accident had once occurred in Russia.

"This is a tragedy which is unfortunately known in Russian history. We express our sincere sympathy for the Indonesian nation over the tragedy," she added.

KRI Nanggala-402 sank in the waters north of Bali Island while conducting torpedo drills. Contact with the submarine was lost early on April 21, 2021, and it was not until Sunday (April 25, 2021) that it was declared to have sunk, with all its 53 crew members pronounced dead on the basis of evidence retrieved from scanning.

The 40-year-old submarine was found split into three parts on the sea bed after a five-day search.

Built in Germany in 1977, KRI Nanggala-402 was refitted in South Korea in 2012.  (Antaranews)