Two soldiers of the Seychelles Defence Forces are still missing a day after an explosion during a sinking operation 80 kilometers northwest of Mahé Island.
Three sailors had transferred from the ship Andromache to an old training vessel as it was being prepared to be sunk. However midway through the operations a blast which could not be xplained occured, causing the old vessel to sink.
Families of the two missing soldiers fear the worst.
President Patrick Herminie issued a statement on Thursday expressing full solidarity with the Seychelles Defence Forces and to relatives of the two soldiers still missing following the tragic incident.
”As Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, I have ordered that every available resource remain committed to the search for our two missing soldiers” he said, vowing that the families concerned are being kept fully and directly informed as the operation progresses.
”I extend my sympathy to the soldier now recovering from injuries sustained during the incident” he added.
WN/as/APA