At least 4 Indonesian soldiers killed in South China Sea exercise

At least four Indonesian soldiers were killed during a South China Sea exercise, the Indonesian military said on Thursday. The soldiers were reportedly killed when a China-made anti-aircraft cannon malfunctioned during an exercise in the Natuna island chain in the disputed waters.

Army spokesperson Alfret Denny Tuejeh said that eight other soldiers were wounded in the accident which occurred on



Wednesday in the Tanjung Datuk region of Riau Islands province, Associated Press reports. Four of the injured are in serious condition.

Tuejeh said that the malfunction of the twin-barrelled gun caused it to fire in unexpected directions and hit the soldiers. The Indonesian soldiers who were killed during the incident were members of the Quick Response Team of the Army's Air Defence Artillery Unit.