Six navy members missing

Six navy members missing

SURABAYA: Six members of the Indonesian Navy sent out on a mapping survey trip to Sangihe Talaud near the Philippine border have been missing since Dec. 16.

Chief of Staff of the Navy's Eastern Armada, Commodore Soeroso, said he did not fear for their safety and predicted that it was more likely that they had been washed ashore onto one of the small islands.

Soeroso, citing past experiences, said that it was probably only a matter of time before Navy located them, Antara reported.

The six were assigned to determine the limit of the 200 mile exclusive economic zone in Sangihe Talaud waters in North Sulawesi, which borders with the Philippines.

The search and rescue team sent to look for the six has been having trouble because of rough weather in the area, he said.

Two Navy ships, KRI Ki Hajar Dewantara and KRI Martadinata, have joined the search mission. (emb)