Entering the fourth day, the Joint SAR Team has expanded the search\narea for a group of five journalists and three ship crew members who\nlost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait while attempting to cover\nMount Anak Krakatau.<\/p>\n
The expansion covers four main sectors and one special sector,\ntotalling an area of approximately 3,243 nautical miles (NM).<\/p>\n
The Head of the Banten SAR Office, Al Amrad, stated that the\nexpansion of the search area is based on evaluations of previous\noperations and monitoring of the current situation on the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cEntering the fourth day, we are expanding the search area by\ndividing the region into several sectors, including a special sector\naround the location of interest,\u201d Al Amrad said in a written statement\non Friday (11\/9).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are optimising all available elements and facilities to find the\neight individuals still being searched for,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Among the naval assets deployed on the fourth day are KN SAR Tetuka\n247, KN SAR Basudewa, KRI Leuser, KRI Karambit, KRI Lepu, KP Sanjaya, KP\nHayabusa, KAL Anyer, KAL Pahawang, RIB 02 Banten, RIB 02 Lampung, RBB\nPulau Peucang, and TB Gunung Santri.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Al Amrad added that search capabilities have been\nstrengthened with two thermal drone units, as well as various land-based\nand supporting facilities.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, he noted that weather conditions on the fourth day around\nthe operational area are expected to be clear to cloudy. Winds are\nblowing from the southeast to the south at speeds of 10 to 20 knots,\nwhile wave heights range between 0.5 and 2.5 metres.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to consider safety factors in every movement of the\nteam. Weather and wave conditions are being continuously monitored,\nwhile the search is conducted in a coordinated and maximal manner across\nall designated sectors,\u201d said Al Amrad.<\/p>\n
The joint SAR operation also involves several parties, including\nBasarnas, the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL), the National Police (Polri),\nBPBD, SAR potential units, local government, healthcare workers,\npsychologists, Tagana, Baznas, Rumah Zakat, as well as community members\nand volunteers.<\/p>\n
Al Amrad expressed hope that the expansion of the search area on the\nfourth day could provide a breakthrough for the five journalists and\nthree crew members still missing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope that the expansion of the area and the addition of search\nstrength can provide a glimmer of hope. The operation is ongoing, and\nevery development in the field will be evaluated to determine the next\nsearch steps,\u201d Al Amrad stated.<\/p>\n
Previously, the group of eight\u2014consisting of five journalists, two\ncrew members, and one guide\u2014lost contact on Monday (7\/9). The group\ndeparted from Pagedongan Pier, Carita, Banten, using a speedboat to\ncover activities at Mount Anak Krakatau (GAK) at approximately 14:00\nWIB.<\/p>\n
They managed to send their latest location to a fellow journalist in\nLampung at approximately 14:42 WIB, but lost contact shortly after at\n15:04 WIB.<\/p>\n
The identities of the eight individuals in the group include: Warta\n(55) as ship captain, Surakman (60) as crew member, Heriyanto (49) as\nguide, M. Bagus Khoirunnas (28) a journalist from ANTARA, Ari Basuki\n(52) a journalist from Merdeka, Yudhis a journalist from iNews, Daus\n(42) a journalist from Anadolu, and Donal, a freelance journalist.<\/p>\n
This afternoon, the professional organisation Pewarta Foto Indonesia\nJakarta (PFIJ) will hold a joint prayer session for their five\ncolleagues and the three crew members currently being searched for. The\nprayer session is scheduled to take place after Maghrib this Friday at a\ncorner of the Bundaran HI area, a frequent gathering point for\nphotojournalists in Jakarta.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/5-journalists-still-missing-search-area-expanded-1789117314", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }