Found life jacket not from missing journalists’ boat: Banten Police

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2 hours ago

Pandeglang, Banten (ANTARA) – Banten Regional Police have clarified that a life jacket recovered during search operations in the Sunda Strait does not belong to the KM Arupadhatu 1, the boat carrying five journalists and three crew members who went missing while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.

Banten Police Chief Inspector General Hengki confirmed Friday at the Carita Marina Pier SAR Post that an orange life jacket and one white plastic container found on Thursday (September 10) by naval vessel KAL Anyer I-3-64 were ruled out following inspection.

“Based on the inspection results, the recovered buoys do not belong to the Arupadhatu 1,” Hengki stated.

Vessel owner Sandi corroborated the police findings, confirming that the recovered buoys were not part of the safety equipment on board when the group departed on Monday (September 7).

Sandi noted that his boat carried at least ten life jackets in various colors—including red and blue—which were typically used for commercial tourism and snorkeling.

The missing journalists have been identified as Bagas Khoirunnas (ANTARA News Agency), Ari Basuki (Merdeka.com), Yudistiro Pranoto (iNews), Firdaus Wajidi (Anadolu Agency), and freelance photojournalist Donal Husni.

They were accompanied by three crew members while traveling to cover the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption.

Contact with the group was lost on Monday shortly after they set sail toward the volcano.

Search and rescue efforts have intensified as operations enter their fourth day.

Head of the Banten SAR Office, Al Amrad, announced that the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed 13 ships divided across four search sectors.

The naval and rescue fleet includes the KRI Kerambit 627, KRI Leuser 924, KN SAR Tetuka and multiple rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) to sweep the waters surrounding Mount Anak Krakatau.