Basarnas Expands Search for Journalists Missing Near Mount Anak Krakatau

September 9, 2026 | 10:46 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A joint search and rescue team comprising of Indonesia's Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) and TNI/Polri (military and police) personnel has resumed the search for a speedboat carrying a group of journalists that lost contact while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau (GAK) in the waters of the Sunda Strait, Pandeglang Regency, Banten.

Riski Dwiyanto, Head of the Operations Section at the Banten Search and Rescue Office, stated in Pandeglang on Wednesday that for this second day of the humanitarian operation, Basarnas Banten has deployed the joint team at full strength.

"We have expanded the search area because SAR mapping analysis points to the southwest of Mount Anak Krakatau Island. In total, the search area covers approximately 271 nautical miles," he said.

Riski explained that the team is currently focusing on expanding the search based on digital data analysis, deploying a total of six vessels divided into five Search and Rescue Units (SRUs), each with a strategic role.

"First, we are using the KN SAR Tual K, covering a search area of 68.3 nautical miles. Then, there is the KAL Anyer vessel belonging to the Banten Naval Base (Lanal Banten), with a range of 69.5 nautical miles," he noted.

Additionally, he continued, the SAR team is utilizing the Lampung RIB 01 and RIB 03 to sweep an area of 67 nautical miles, while the Banten RIB 02 is focused on a thorough sweep along Rakata Island and Panjang Island to check for any potential victims or vessel debris washed ashore on these small islands.

"Finally, we are supported by the KP Sanjay, operated by the Banten Regional Police Water and Air Police Unit (Polairud), covering a search area of 67.3 nautical miles," he said.

Regarding environmental conditions, Riski confirmed that the weather at the search site remains favorable and conducive to the smooth conduct of the operation. According to a report from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the weather is currently partly cloudy with winds blowing from south to north at 14 knots, and wave heights ranging from 0.4 to 1 meter.

"These conditions are still considered safe and highly favorable for us to conduct a sweep at sea," he added.

Meanwhile, family members of the victims have begun arriving at the search command post. Basarnas (the National Search and Rescue Agency) has been coordinating closely to provide the latest updates on the ongoing search and rescue operation.

"Family members have started to arrive, and we have already briefed them on the actions taken so far. We ask for prayers from the media and the public so that the joint search and rescue team can quickly locate the victims safe and sound," he said.

According to a report from the Banten Search and Rescue Office, the speedboat carrying the group of journalists departed from Pagedongan Pier, Carita, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, at 14:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) to cover activities at Mount Anak Krakatau.

The last recorded communication shows that the victims shared their current location with fellow journalists in Lampung at 14:42 WIB, before contact was lost at 15:04 WIB near the estimated coordinates 6°14'40.52"S 105°40'49.48"E.

Basarnas has identified at least seven individuals currently being sought, including ANTARA news agency photojournalist M. Bagus Khoirunnas, Ari Basuki (Merdeka), Yudhis (iNews), Daus (Anadolu), Donal (freelance journalist), and two others whose details are still being verified.

Read: Boat Owner Says Speedboat Carrying Missing Journalists Was Seaworthy

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