Coastal residents near Carita join search for missing journalists

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2 hours ago

Pandeglang, Banten (ANTARA) – Residents from coastal communities near Carita beach, Pandeglang District, Banten Province, joined the search on Thursday for journalists who lost contact aboard a speedboat while covering Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity.

Coastal community coordinator Irvan Kipong said the search reflected residents’ concern and their desire to support the humanitarian operation.

“At 7 a.m. today, Thursday (September 10), our Ujung Kulon Adventure team will search the waters around Panaitan and the Sunda Strait,” he said.

He said the team would focus on several key points around Panaitan Island, which directly borders the Sunda Strait.

Using local boats, the coastal team will expand the search area in waters known for challenging conditions.

“This concerns our friends Abah Bonsai, the crew and journalists. We hope searching around Panaitan Island will produce results and provide a breakthrough,” he said.

The community-led search is expected to complement the operation coordinated by the authorities.

Local fishermen’s knowledge of sea conditions in the Sunda Strait could provide an advantage in locating the missing people more quickly.

Meanwhile, the Banten Search and Rescue Office continued the search for a third day from early Thursday as weather conditions were relatively calmer.

“Field observations show winds and waves becoming stronger toward midday and afternoon. Wave heights today ranged from one to two meters,” Banten SAR Chief Al Amrad said.

He said the southern search area had been fully covered to a radius of about 20 nautical miles from the center of Mount Anak Krakatau.

The joint SAR team was also expanding the search northward while remaining around Mount Anak Krakatau, based on calculations of currents, wave movements and wind direction.

“We may expand to the northern side based on calculations of currents, wave movements and wind,” he said.