Cabinet Secretary: President instructs Navy to deploy 11 ships to search for five journalists
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Since Monday (7/9) evening, President Prabowo Subianto has instructed the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (KSAL), Admiral Muhammad Ali, to immediately conduct a search for five journalists and three ship crew members who have been reported missing.
The group lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, while covering volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, when confirmed by ANTARA on Thursday, stated that the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) deployed ships for the search on the same day.
“Since the group of five journalists and three ship crew members was reported missing on Monday night, President Prabowo immediately instructed the KSAL to conduct a search; on that same day, the Navy directly dispatched its ships,” said Teddy.
According to reports from the Chief of Navy Staff, a total of 11 combined vessels have been deployed for the search operation.
The eleven ships include KRI Leuser-924, KRI Kerambit-627, KRI Lepu-861, KAL Anyer 1-3-64, KAL Pohawang 1-3-30, RBB Peucang Lanal Banten, RHIB SAR 02 Banten, RHIB SAR 02 Lampung, KN SAR Tetuka-247, KN SAR Basudewa-224, and KP Sanjaya-7017.
The Cabinet Secretary also offered prayers for the safety of the entire group, expressing hope that they would be found safe.
“Our prayers are with the safety of the entire group. May they be found safe and sound,” he said.
It is known that five journalists and three crew members were reported missing in the Sunda Strait waters on Monday (7/9).
The group consists of M Bagus Khoirunnas (ANTARA News Agency), Ari Basuki (Merdeka.com), Yudhistiro (iNews), Firdaus (Anadolu), and Donal (freelance journalist), along with Warta (ship captain), Surakman (crew member), and Heriyanto (guide).
According to initial information, the group departed from Pagedongan Pier, Carita, Pandeglang, on Monday (7/9/2026) at approximately 14:00 WIB. One journalist managed to send their last known location at around 14:42 WIB. However, communication with the group was subsequently lost at approximately 15:04 WIB.
Their whereabouts remain unknown since that time. The SAR (Search and Rescue) team is currently conducting searches based on the last known communication points and locations.