Indonesian Navy fast missile boat sinks off Sorong

Indonesian Navy’s fast missile boat KRI Rencong (622) sank on Tuesday after catching fire off Sorong, West Papua.

The incident occurred while the vessel was patrolling in the waters some 20 miles from the Naval Command III in Sorong, The Jakarta Post reported.

The video shared by Indonesian television content provider Kompas TV shows that KRI Rencong was completely engulfed in flames.

As the vessel could not have been saved, all 37 crew members were evacuated and brought to the naval base.

An investigation into the causes of the fire has been launched.

KRI Rencong belonged to the navy’s Mandau-class of small military ships. Built in South Korea in 1979, the ship was named after the country’s traditional weapon.