Basarnas Anticipates Anak Krakatau Activity in Search for Five Missing Journalists
The search operation for eight people missing in the waters of the Sunda Strait has entered its eighth day. However, the joint SAR team now faces another challenge in the middle of the operation: volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau (GAK).
The potential eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau has become a serious concern because the SAR team must operate in waters surrounding the volcano.
Head of Operations at the Banten SAR Office, Rizky Dwianto, said an evaluation conducted jointly with the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) showed an accumulation of energy from shallow volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau.
Although no eruption has occurred so far, the condition is considered potentially capable of triggering a larger eruption.
“These are the things we need to anticipate for the safety of the joint SAR team in carrying out the search,” he said at the National SAR Main Post at Carita Beach, Pandeglang, on Tuesday, 15 September 2026.
For this reason, every movement of SAR personnel and vessels takes into account developments in Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity.
Rizky assured that the team continues to rely on PVMBG information and recommendations throughout the search operation.
“Information regarding Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity sourced from PVMBG serves as our guideline. Visual observations show the mountain is covered in mist, while seismic observations record continuous shallow volcanic earthquakes with tremors,” he said.
Beyond the volcanic activity, weather conditions in the Sunda Strait are also a consideration for the SAR team. Based on analysis by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the waters of the Sunda Strait are observed to be cloudy.
Wave heights range from 0.5 to 2.5 metres, heading north-east. Meanwhile, wind speeds range from 5 to 20 knots, moving from the south-east towards the south.
Taking these conditions into account, the SAR operation on its eighth day proceeded with the search area divided into five sea sectors.
Numerous vessels were deployed in the operation, including KN SAR Tetuka, KN SAR Basudewa, KN SAR Antasena, KRI Gilimanuk, KRI Leuser, KRI Lepu, KRI Kerambit, KAL Anyer, KAL Pahowang, KP Sanjaya, RIB 02 Banten, RIB 02 Lampung, RBB Pulau Peucang, as well as several Polairud KP boats.