Eleven crew members of a Sri Lanka Navy Dvora fast attack craft have been rescued and hospitalised after the vessel ran into distress in the seas off Angulana on Saturday. One sailor remains missing.
Twelve personnel were aboard the craft, Hiru News reported, citing the Police Media Division. Eight of those rescued were admitted to Kalubowila Hospital for further treatment, while search and rescue operations continue for the twelfth crew member.
The Navy Media Spokesperson said an operation was launched based on information received about personnel on board the vessel. Daily Mirror reported that the craft was on a routine patrol in the area when the incident occurred.
Air Force joins search
At the Navy’s request, the Sri Lanka Air Force deployed two helicopters to the scene. The SLAF Media Spokesperson said an Mi-17 and a Bell 412 were sent to monitor the distressed vessel and assist in the rescue, Ada Derana reported.
Police, the Navy, the Air Force and local residents all took part in the operation, which was launched earlier in the day as the scale of the incident became clear.
The rescued personnel were taken to hospital for medical evaluation.
Cause not yet established
What caused the craft to run into difficulty has not been confirmed. Ada Derana described the vessel as having been “involved in an accident,” while Daily Mirror said it “encountered distress”; Hiru News headlined its English report as a capsizing. Daily Mirror said further details of the circumstances surrounding the incident were yet to be confirmed.
Angulana lies on the coast south of Colombo, in the Moratuwa area. Dvora-class fast attack craft form part of the Navy’s inshore patrol fleet.
