Indonesian government says over 50 lives lost on sunken submarine

The Indonesian government on Saturday confirmed that it was treating a missing submarine as having sunk with all hands lost after debris from the craft were found floating in the water near where it is assumed to have foundered.

National Armed Forces Commander Hadi Tjahjanto said on Saturday that various objects from the KRI Nanggala, including prayer rugs and a grease bottle, have led searchers to conclude that the sub not only sank but cracked open, potentially after reaching depths where the water pressure would have destroyed the sub’s hull. 

An international team including craft from the U.S. and Australia have joined in the search for the presumably destroyed submarine. 

The submarine has been in service since 1981.