No Sign of Missing Journalists as Sunda Strait Search Enters Second Day
A joint search and rescue operation in the Sunda Strait off Pandeglang, Banten, has entered its second day without locating a speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists who were covering the Anak Krakatau eruption. Authorities have expanded the search area and deployed additional vessels, warships, and a thermal drone.
A joint search and rescue team led by Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Banten office entered the second day of operations on September 9 in the Sunda Strait off Pandeglang, Banten, without finding any trace of eight people missing aboard a speedboat. The missing include boat captain Warta, 55, crew member Surakman, 60, and guide Heriyanto, 49, along with five journalists from Antara, Merdeka, iNews, Anadolu, and a freelance reporter, who had been covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.
Search teams divided into multiple sectors and deployed vessels including the KN SAR Tetuka 247, KAL Anyer, KP Sanjaya, and Indonesian Navy warships KRI Leuser and KRI Lepu. Visual searches were conducted around Rakata, Panjang, Sebesi, and Sebuku islands as well as the Krakatau area, but as of 5:07 p.m. local time on Wednesday, no sign of the missing group or the vessel had been found. Officials noted that Mount Anak Krakatau was observed releasing a fairly thick plume of volcanic ash during the operation.
The operation involved personnel from Banten and Lampung SAR offices, the military, police, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Port Authority and Maritime Affairs Office (KSOP), local search groups, the victims' families, fishermen, and residents. Weather conditions were partly cloudy with winds around 14 knots and waves between 0.4 and 1 meter.
Things to Consider
Volcanic activity around Anak Krakatau is ongoing, with risks of ash plumes and reduced visibility, so travelers and journalists should avoid approaching the area by boat for now. Anyone planning to visit the region should check the latest volcanic activity level and exclusion zone updates from Basarnas and Indonesia's geological agency (PVMBG) before departure. When chartering a boat, confirm that the operator provides life jackets, communication equipment, and weather monitoring, and be prepared to postpone travel if conditions worsen.
Source: Tempo.co English