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