No Sign of Missing Journalists as Sunda Strait Search Enters Day Two

September 9, 2026 | 06:13 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A joint search team has yet to find any sign of eight people aboard a speedboat that lost contact in the Sunda Strait off Pandeglang, Banten, as the search entered its second day on Wednesday, September 9. The group included five journalists covering the eruption of Anak Krakatau.The team, comprising personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Banten and the military and police, expanded the search area and deployed additional vessels and equipment.Banten Search and Rescue Office chief Al Amrad said the operation was being conducted across multiple sectors to maximize the chances of locating the missing group."On the second day, we expanded the search area by dividing the team into several Search and Rescue Units across different sectors. We are optimizing all available resources to find the eight people still missing," Al Amrad said in Pandeglang on Wednesday.SAR Teams Expand Search Across Sunda StraitThe KN SAR Tetuka 247 searched Sector 2, covering 68.3 nautical miles, while the KAL Anyer covered the same sector over 69.5 nautical miles.RIB 02 and RIB 03 from Lampung searched Sector 1, covering 67 nautical miles, with teams conducting visual searches around Sebesi and Sebuku islands and the Krakatau area.RIB 02 Banten searched along Rakata and Panjang islands, while KP Sanjaya covered Sector 4 for 67.3 nautical miles. Indonesian Navy warships KRI Leuser and KRI Lepu also conducted searches in designated sectors.Search personnel conducted visual monitoring around Anak Krakatau and Rakata Besar, but had found no indication of the missing group as of 5:07 p.m. local time Wednesday."During the search, Mount Anak Krakatau was observed releasing a fairly thick plume of volcanic ash," Al Amrad said.The eight people missing are identified as Warta, 55, the boat captain; Surakman, 60, a crew member; and Heriyanto, 49, a guide.The five journalists are M. Bagus Khoirunnas of Antara, Ari Basuki of Merdeka, Yudhis of iNews, Daus of Anadolu, and freelance journalist Donal.The second-day operation involved search and rescue personnel from Banten and Lampung, USS Pandeglang, USS Merak, the military and police, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Port Authority and Maritime Affairs Office (KSOP), local search and rescue groups, media representatives, the victims' families, fishermen and residents.The search effort deployed KN SAR Tetuka 247, KAL Anyer, KP Sanjaya, KRI Lepu, KRI Leuser, RIB 02 Banten, RIB 02 and RIB 03 Lampung, as well as a thermal drone and water rescue, medical and communications equipment.Weather conditions in the search area were partly cloudy, with winds blowing from south to north at around 14 knots and waves measuring between 0.4 and 1 meter, Al Amrad said.