Three Facts on the Search for Missing Journalists Near Anak Krakatau

September 10, 2026 | 10:26 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The search for five journalists missing in the waters of the Sunda Strait entered its second day on Thursday, September 10, as a joint search and rescue (SAR) team intensified efforts to locate them.

The journalists had traveled by speedboat to cover the eruptive activity of Mount Anak Krakatau. The boat departed from Pagedongan Pier in Carita on Monday, September 7, 2026.

The last communication with the group was recorded at around 15:04 WIB (Western Indonesian Time). One of the journalists had earlier sent their last known location coordinates at approximately 14:42 WIB.

As reported by RRI, the joint SAR operation has expanded with additional naval vessels and hundreds of personnel deployed across designated search areas.

The following is the list of identities of the individuals on the speedboat who are currently being sought:

- Warta (55), boat captain

- Surakman (60), crew member

- Heriyanto (49), guide

- M Bagus Khoirunnas, Antara journalist

- Ari Basuki, Merdeka journalist

- Yudhis, iNews journalist

- Daus, Anadolu journalist

- Donal, freelance journalist

Here are three key facts about the latest search operation:

1. Three Navy Ships Deployed

The Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) has deployed three warships to reinforce the search for the missing group and expand the sweep area in the Sunda Strait.

The three vessels are KRI Leuser-924, KRI Kerambit-627, and KRI Lepu-861.

“Three Navy ships have been deployed to reinforce the search operation and expand the sweep area within the waters of the Sunda Strait,” an official Indonesian Navy press release received by RRI on Thursday said.

The Navy has also deployed other vessels through the Lampung Naval Base (Lanal Lampung) and Banten Naval Base (Lanal Banten).

All participating units are conducting coordinated searches by sweeping designated sectors to maximize the operation.

2. High Waves Hamper the Search

Banten Regional Police Chief Inspector General Hengki said the five journalists who lost contact near Mount Anak Krakatau had not been found.

He said the search was being hampered by challenging weather and sea conditions, including strong winds and waves reaching between 1 and 2 meters.

“The team remains in the field, and we are continuing to monitor the situation. Regarding weather conditions, winds are quite strong, and wave heights range from one to two meters,” he said.

The conditions have made the search more challenging as teams continue conducting sweeps in the waters around Mount Anak Krakatau.

3. 250 Joint Personnel Deployed

The joint search operation began at 07:00 WIB on the second day, with 250 personnel deployed across five search zones.

The operation is being conducted in an integrated manner, with personnel divided among the designated sectors to expand the search area.

Hengki said weather and sea conditions remained a challenge for personnel working in the field, with preliminary observations showing strong winds and waves measuring between 1 and 2 meters.

Authorities have urged the public and local fishermen to support the search by immediately reporting any suspicious objects, particularly objects found floating at sea, to the authorities.

Read: Five Journalists Still Missing as Search Near Anak Krakatau Enters Second Day

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