Bandarlampung (ANTARA) – The Lampung Regional Police have expanded their search efforts for five missing journalists and three crew members sailing from Carita Beach, Pandeglang District, Banten, heading for Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait.
“The search area will be expanded to include several waters within the jurisdiction of the Lampung Regional Police,” Lampung Regional Police Public Relations Chief, Senior Commissioner Yuni Iswandari, stated on Thursday.
She said the step was taken as a precautionary measure in case the victims were swept into Lampung waters by the current.
“We anticipate that the victims may have been carried by the current into Lampung waters. Hopefully, this effort will help clarify the situation and provide information on the whereabouts of our colleagues,” Iswandari remarked.
Following the missing incident in Banten waters, the Lampung Regional Police and a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team assisted in the search by combing the waters within the jurisdiction of the Lampung Regional Police.
“Previously, personnel from the Water Police, along with Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency), personnel from the Lampung Regional Police Command (DKO) Headquarters, and the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob) of the Lampung Regional Police, were deployed to patrol around Sebesi Island and several other areas in Lampung waters,” Iswandari noted.
“Yesterday, we deployed two teams. But no clear indication of their whereabouts has been found,” she continued.
According to her, the Lampung Regional Police planned to continue the search by boat. An aerial search using a helicopter was also being prepared and would be carried out if weather conditions were favorable.
“God willing, if the helicopter can fly and cloud and weather conditions permit, we will conduct aerial patrols,” she said.
Based on initial information, the group departed from Pagedongan Port, Carita, Pandeglang, on September 7, 2026, at around 2:00 p.m. local time. One of the journalists sent their last known location at around 2:42 p.m. However, communication with the group was lost at around 3:04 p.m.
Their whereabouts have remained unknown since then. The SAR team subsequently launched a search operation based on their last known location and the point where communication was last established.
The five journalists identified are M. Bagus Khoirunnas from ANTARA, Ari Basuki of Merdeka, Yudhis from iNews, Daus from Anadolu, and Donal, a freelance journalist. Three crew members were also aboard the speedboat.
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Translator: Dian Hadiyatna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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