Jakarta (ANTARA) – Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi expressed concern over the loss of contact with five journalists while covering activity at Mount Anak Krakatau, while mobilizing search support together with a joint team and relevant authorities.
“We are very concerned about the five journalists who lost contact while covering the activity of Mount Anak Krakatau,” the minister said when met here on Thursday.
The minister also prayed that the five journalists would soon be found by the joint search and rescue (SAR) team, and hoped the search process would proceed smoothly with support from all relevant parties.
He urged the public to avoid unnecessary activities around Mount Anak Krakatau, particularly while conditions in the area remain unsafe.
He said any activities in the area should be reported in advance to the relevant authorities, including the harbormaster, to ensure safety and anticipate potential risks.
The minister said his ministry had issued a notice to mariners for vessels passing through the Sunda Strait, requiring all operators to comply with safety regulations.
He warned that wave conditions in the area were hazardous, noting that small boats experiencing engine problems could be swept away by strong currents.
Meanwhile, the ministry’s Director General of Sea Transportation Muhammad Mashyud said the ministry had also deployed a patrol vessel to assist the joint SAR team in the search operation.
The five journalists have been out of contact since Monday (September 7), when they traveled to the waters of the Sunda Strait to cover volcanic activity at Anak Krakatau.
The five are ANTARA photojournalist Muhammad Bagus Khoirunas; Arie Basuki of merdeka.com; freelance photographer Donal Husni; Yudhistira of iNews; and Daus of Anadolu.
The trip also included two boat crew members and a guide, who were part of the same group.
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Translator: Harianto, Kenzu
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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