Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — “All officers, including the captain, are dead. Possibly the whole crew is dead” was the chilling final message from a ship that vanished into the depths of the sea, covered in mysteries. This is the mysterious tragedy of the S.S. Ourang Medan.
The S.S. Ourang Medan is an urban legend from the Indonesian seas, back in the 1940s, when the country was still under Dutch colonial rule. According to the story, the ship was a Dutch cargo ship with no official records, meaning there is no documentation of its construction, origin, or destination.
The name “Ourang Medan” translates to “Man from Medan,” a city in Sumatra, however, neither the Indonesian nor the Dutch governments claimed to have any knowledge of the ship.
On the day when tragedies occur, Dutch and British ships receive a distress call from the S.S. Ourang Medan, crying for help. In those days, ships communicated via radio waves and Morse code, which translated rhythmic taps into messages.
The call sent by the ship turned out to be a horror and terrifying message, saying, “All officers, including the captain, are dead. Possibly the whole crew is dead.”
Moments later, they receive another Morse code sent by the operator of S.S. Ourang Medan, believed to be his own final message says “I am dying.”
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Located nearby, The American vessel S.S. Silver Star responded immediately to the call and attempted to help, but they received no reply. Upon locating the ship, the Silver Star’s crew boarded the Ourang Medan, trying to rescue any survivors.
What they found was that all the crew members were lying dead, with their bodies scattered across the deck, just as the call had described.
While they look closely, it shows a more horrifying sight compared to the dead body. The crew’s faces were twisted in fear, their skin pale, teeth clenched, and lips parted, with eyes wide open and arms outstretched as if trying to reach for something, and others had their mouths gaping in a silent scream.
The rescue crew decided to tow the ship to port, but suddenly a fire broke out in the ship’s cargo hold. The rescue crew had to abandon the ship, and moments later, the ship exploded and sank into the depths of the Malacca Strait, leaving no trace behind.
Theories about the S.S. Ourang Medan
The tragedy surrounding the S.S. Ourang Medan remains shrouded in mystery. What caused the sudden deaths of the crew, and what triggered the subsequent explosion?
Chemical Leak
One theory suggests that there is a leak of highly toxic and volatile substances carried by the ship, causing the crew to suffer from hallucinations, convulsions, and respiratory failure. However, some experts doubt that any substance could cause such a sudden and widespread death.
Pirates Attack
Another theory speculates that a pirate attacked the ship, killed the crew, and then sent a distress call to lure in potential rescuers. However, no evidence of violence was found on the bodies, and the absence of any looted goods from the ship raises questions about this theory.
Supernatural Causes
The most controversial theory holds that the crew encounters supernatural or extraterrestrial forces, such as a cursed artifact, a ghostly presence, or an alien. However, such theories lack any evidence and considered only as myths and legends.
Up to this day, there is no fixed theory about the Ourang Medan. The truth behind the tragedy of the SS Ourang Medan remains a mystery. There are many theories and speculations about what happened to the ship and its crew, but none of them have been proven or confirmed.
Serves as an urban legend, The misterious tragedy of S.S. Ourang Medan remains unsolved, leaving behind more questions than answers.
(Raidi/Agung)
