Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has launched a search operation for a group of journalists, including those from ANTARA News Agency, who went missing in the Sunda Strait amid the Anak Krakatau eruption.
Basarnas Deputy for Operations Edy Prakoso expressed condolences over the incident and assured that the agency would continue searching for the missing journalists.
“We will continue the search tomorrow. We express our condolences,” he said Tuesday.
Prakoso said conditions around Anak Krakatau amid its ongoing eruption posed a significant challenge to the search operation.
“Anak Krakatau can still erupt and spew volcanic material at any time, and we must proceed with caution,” he said.
According to the latest data, seven people were on board, including five journalists: Bagas Khoirunnas of ANTARA News Agency, Ari Basuki of Merdeka, Yudhis of iNews, Daus of Turkiye’s Anadolu Agency, and freelance photojournalist Donal. The identities of the other two people were being verified.
Meanwhile, the Banten SAR Office said the speedboat carrying the journalists departed from Pagedongan Dock in Carita, Banten, at 2 p.m. Monday (Sept. 7) for a reporting assignment on Anak Krakatau.
The last communication with those on board was made at 2:42 p.m., when one journalist sent their latest location to colleagues in Lampung. Communications were lost at 3:04 p.m.
Banten SAR Office Head Zainal Arifin said the first phase of the search, which continued until 6:15 p.m. and covered Krakatau Island and Panjang Island, found no sign of the missing people.
The search operation will continue Wednesday morning, with the Banten SAR Office receiving support from the Banten Police Sea and Air Patrol team.
“We will expand the search area tomorrow, as we studied today the route taken by the speedboat from Carita to Anak Krakatau,” Arifin said.
Related news: Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruption returns to Strombolian phase: govt
Related news: Indonesia ramps up response as multiple volcanoes erupt
Translator: Riezko Bima Elko, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2026