the new zealand defense force issued a statement on the 6th saying that a new zealand navy warship caught fire and ran aground in the waters of the south pacific island country of samoa on the evening of the 5th local time, tilted severely, and sank into the water early on the 6th. the 75 crew members and passengers on the ship have arrived safely in samoa.
the statement said the warship was conducting coral reef surveys off the southern coast of upolu, samoa. after the warship ran aground, the people on board left in life rafts and sea boats.
the new zealand defense force said that after the accident, multiple ships responded and assisted in rescuing the crew and passengers, and the royal new zealand air force also dispatched patrol aircraft for rescue.
according to reuters, videos and photos released by local media showed that the warship tilted severely and smoke was emitting after it ran aground. the new zealand defense force said the ship capsized and completely sank at 9 a.m. local time.
it is reported that the warship involved was a multi-purpose maritime support ship with a displacement of 5,741 tons. reuters stated that new zealand spent 103 million new zealand dollars to build this warship in 2018. the ship has been in service with the royal new zealand navy since 2019. it is mainly used for professional diving, salvage and hydrographic missions around new zealand and the southwest pacific. it can also support the mission of clearing explosive remnants of war.
source: xinhua news agency, global times new media
