Fishermen saved by U.S. warship

Fishermen saved by U.S. warship

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Five fishermen from Bengkalis, Riau, were saved by the U.S. Navy after their motorized boat Karimun Indah was hit by an unidentified tanker in the Straits of Malacca on Saturday night.

The five, identified A Hio, 50; Rivai, 24; Jaya, 26; Firdaus, 25; and Abu, 25, have been accommodated at the Medan Air Force airbase, awaiting their return to Riau.

Lt. Col. Nailul Humam was quoted by Antara as saying on Tuesday that he had coordinated with the North Sumatra administration to arrange the fishermen's return to their home town.

"We were forced to jump into the sea as our boat was damaged after being hit by the unidentified tanker," Firdaus said, adding that after floating for four hours he and his colleagues were saved by the passing U.S. warship.

The five survivors were later transferred to a U.S. aircraft carrier before being flown by helicopter to Medan.

"On the warship we were treated like special guests," Firdaus said. -- Antara