Day 9: 22 Vessels Deployed to Search for 8 Missing Persons near Mount Anak Krakatau

The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team is conducting its ninth day of operations to find five journalists and three ship crew members missing near Mount Anak Krakatau. A total of 22 vessels have been deployed across eight search sectors to locate the eight missing individuals.

Rizky Dwiyanto, Head of Operations for Basarnas Banten, stated that on this ninth day, the search is focused on the southeast of Mount Anak Krakatau. Based on search data, 22 vessels have been deployed, covering a total search area of 3,439 nautical miles (NM) square.

“For today’s search focus, we are covering all sectors as planned in our SAR Map. Based on calculations of currents, waves, and wind, the focus is the southeastern region of Mount Anak Krakatau,” Rizky said at the National SAR Post, Carita Beach, Pandeglang, on Wednesday (16/09/2026).

The search area size remains similar to yesterday, Tuesday (15/09). However, while the SAR team deployed 20 vessels across five sectors yesterday, they have increased the deployment to 22 vessels across eight sectors today.

“The reason it is divided into eight sectors is to increase focus. Yesterday, the track spacing of the vessels during the search was approximately 3 nautical miles, but today it is around 1 to 2 nautical miles. We are strengthening the sweeping process,” he added.

Basarnas has received weather information from the BMKG, indicating cloudy conditions today with waves ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 metres moving towards the northeast. Wind speeds are expected to be between 5 and 20 knots, moving from the southeast towards the south.

Meanwhile, the PVMBG has provided data regarding the current condition of Mount Anak Krakatau to Basarnas. Rizky noted that Mount Anak Krakatau is currently obscured by fog and smoke, making it unobservable.

“Regarding seismic observations, shallow volcanic activity with continuous tremors is still occurring,” he said.

The details of the primary maritime assets deployed today are as follows:

National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas): 3 units of KN SAR, 2 units of RIB.

Indonesian Navy (TNI AL): 5 units of KRI, 2 units of KAL, 1 unit of RBB.

Indonesian National Police Water Police (Polairud): 8 units.