Indonesian search and rescue teams have found debris believed to be from a submarine which went missing with 53 people onboard.
The KRI Nanggala 402 vanished in the Bali Sea on Wednesday during live torpedo exercises, with Indonesian rescue teams fearing the crew’s supply of oxygen would run out today.
Air Marshall Hadi Tjahjanto confirmed rescuers had found debris including a bottle of lubricant and a device that shields a torpedo.
The Indonesian military has now declared the submarine as sunk.
The Indonesian navy chief of staff said a scan had detected the submarine at 850 metres, well beyond its survivable limits.
(Image: MADE NAGI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
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The diesel electric-powered vessel, which disappeared as it prepared to conduct a torpedo drill, is designed to withstand a depth of up to 500 metres.
The Bali Sea can reach depths of more than 1,500 metres.
India, Malaysia, Singapore and the US sent specialised ships and aircraft in response to Indonesian requests for help with the search. France and Germany have also offered assistance.
Australia has also dispatched a sonar-equipped warship with a helicopter to help the submarine hunt amid fears that the submarine might have been crushed by water pressure.
An aerial search earlier found an oil spill near where the submarine dived which could point to fuel tank damage, or could also be a signal from the crew.