Anxiety Grips Wives of Journalists Missing in Sunda Strait

The wives of two journalists, who were part of a group of passengers on a speedboat that lost contact while attempting to cover activities at Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait waters, have shared stories regarding their last communications.

Astrid, the wife of journalist Anadolu Firdaus Wajidi, revealed that her husband had first ensured the safety of the reporting trip. “On Sunday night, he was in Carita interviewing the governor. Then that night, he informed me he was going to cross. I told him if it was risky and dangerous, not to go. He replied that he would first ask around the area to see if it was safe to cross,” Astrid told a CNNIndonesia TV correspondent in Pandeglang, Banten, on Wednesday (9/9).

Astrid stated that she still received messages from her husband before his departure. However, as of now, her messages remain unread by Firdaus. “The last contact was before 2:00 PM before he departed. Before crossing, he was still informing me that he was preparing to cross. I replied at 14:38, but it has remained with a single tick [unreceived] until now,” she said.

Astrid also shared that she had informed her three children about the situation affecting their father. “I left them with my brother-in-law, who is staying here. I went home because my three children are at home with their grandparents. The children already know the situation; I had no choice but to tell them,” she said.

Meanwhile, Desi, the wife of ANTARA photojournalist M Bagus Khoirunnas, mentioned that her husband had also informed her about the coverage of Mount Anak Krakatau. “Yes, he did tell me. He said that on Monday he would be departing to cover Mount Anak Krakatau,” Desi said on Wednesday (9/9).

While waiting for news in Pandeglang, Banten, Desi expressed her hope that her husband, along with all passengers and the ship’s crew, could return safely. “My hope is certainly that my husband, his friends, all the crew, can be found safe, healthy, and whole without any harm,” she said.

To date, joint authorities are still conducting search efforts for the group of journalists who lost contact in the Sunda Strait waters, Banten. A total of five journalists, along with two crew members and one guide, were reported to have departed from Pagedongan Pier, Carita, Pandeglang, on Monday (7/9) at approximately 14:00 WIB.

One journalist reportedly sent their last known location at approximately 14:42 WIB. However, communication with the group was subsequently lost around 15:04 WIB. The missing crew members include Warta (55) and Surakman (60), while Heriyanto (49) was also on the speedboat as the guide.

The five journalists in the group are M Bagus Khoirunnas (ANTARA), Ari Basuki (Merdeka), Yudhis (iNews), Daus (Anadolu), and Donal (freelance). Since then, their whereabouts remain unknown. SAR teams are conducting searches based on the last known communication points and locations.