Aceh Press Organisations Hold Joint Prayer for Missing Journalists During Anak Krakatau Coverage
Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - A number of press organisations in Aceh have held a joint prayer for five journalists from various media outlets who went missing while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau (GAK) some time ago.
“We are offering prayers and dhikr together for the safety of our colleagues who have lost contact and have not yet been found, as searches continue to this day,” said the Chairman of the Indonesian Press Photographers Association (PFI) Aceh, Muhammad Anshar, in Banda Aceh on Friday.
The prayer and dhikr session, held at the Aceh journalists’ joint secretariat (Sekber), was led by Ustadz Zul Afore and attended by journalists from PFI Aceh, the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) Aceh, and the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) Aceh.
As previously reported, eight individuals lost contact after sailing near Mount Anak Krakatau on Monday (7/9), including five journalists and three crew members.
The five journalists are M Bagus Khoirunnas from LKBN ANTARA, Ari Basuki from Merdeka.com, Yudistiro Pranoto from iNews, Firman Daus from Anadolu Agency, and Donal Husni, a freelance journalist.
They departed from the Carita area in Pandeglang alongside Warta, the speedboat captain, Sukarman, a crew member, and Heriyanto, a guide, to cover the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption.
“We hope that in the future, journalists in the field will continue to prioritise safety and coordinate before reporting to avoid unforeseen incidents,” Anshar added.
Currently, SAR teams, alongside the Indonesian Navy and other relevant agencies, are continuing search operations, which are expected to persist until there is a breakthrough.
“We hope this search does not stop until everyone is found. We hope for a breakthrough and we hope for the best,” said Anshar.
During the prayer, Ustadz Zul Arafah prayed to Allah SWT for the safety of the journalists and the three others travelling with them, or for their whereabouts to be revealed.
“If they are safe, please grant them safety, O Allah. And if they have indeed passed away, please reveal their remains, O Allah. Their families are waiting for them,” said Ustadz Zul Arafah.