The SS Ourang Medan: A Mystery Unsolved

**Trigger Warning** Mentions of Death and Effects of Death. Read on your own accord.

The usual tales of ghost stories were almost always proven to be phoney. The Hydesville hauntings? A trio of three sisters made that up. The Coventry University ghost? It had a factual explanation behind it. But as discouraging I sound, turning down story after story, there are ones that no one can prove a hoax. One of them being The SS Ourang Medan.

Most stories start out with a normal explanation, including this one. It was in the 1940’s when the Dutch vessel, SS Ourang Medan, was passing through the Strait of Malacca. After some time, neighboring ships reported having to receive an SOS from the ship. “All officers including the captain are dead, lying in the chartroom and on the bridge, and probably the whole crew dead.” The radio operator's last words were, I die. In other words, it was a complete mystery to anyone and everyone who received these emergency calls. As rescuers boarded the vessel to try to lavish anything they could, the sight was absolute horror. The bodies of the crew were spread on the deck, their faces turned fearfully towards the sun, the witnesses state. Shortly after the rescuers boarded the vessel, a fire broke out, prompting them to evacuate. Some time later, the ship exploded with such potency that it sank without any remnants.

Is this Story Actually True?

Now, there is still a question remaining to be answered: Was this a true tale? Or just another hoax. We never may know. The SS Ourang Medan was not officially registered in Lloyds Shipping Registers. But believers of this bizarre story swear that this tale is undoubtedly true. Earlier, I mentioned that no one can prove that this story was a hoax, and while it may not have the best explanation that it was a ghost ship, no one can prove otherwise. So, decades later, there is no confirmation of this tale. You have the facts, and now you decide. What do you think happened to the SS Ourang Medan?

Sources used:

https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/ss-ourang-medan-ghost-ship/

https://www.insider.com/ghost-stories-that-turned-out-to-be-fake-2018-4