Day eight: search operation for missing journalists in Sunda Strait remains optimal

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Basarnas has confirmed that the eighth day of the search and rescue operation for a group of journalists and speedboat crew who went missing while covering volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, via Pandeglang, Banten, continues to run optimally.

SAR Mission Coordinator Al Amrad, in a statement issued in Jakarta on Tuesday, said that all elements involved in the SAR operation remain committed to carrying out the search to the fullest in order to locate the missing.

The eight people being sought comprise five journalists — M Bagus Khoirunnas (ANTARA News Agency), Ari Basuki (Merdeka.com), Yudhistiro (iNews), Firdaus (Anadolu), and Donal (freelance journalist) — while the other three are Warta (boat captain), Surakman (crew member), and Heriyanto (guide). They were reported to have lost contact on Monday (7/9) at around 14:00 Western Indonesian Time.

“We will continue the SAR operation by optimising all available resources. We hope these efforts will bear fruit and that the eight victims will soon be found,” said Al Amrad, who also heads the Banten SAR Office.

The search operation involves 20 vessels and one helicopter.

SAR elements taking part in the search include HR 3604, three KRI naval vessels, one KAL, one RBB, eight KP Polairud vessels, three KN SAR vessels from Banten, Lampung, and Jakarta, two RIBs, and two KN KPLP vessels, namely KN Damaru and KN Jembio.

He also expressed hope that the day’s operations would be supported by clear weather, minimal wind, and friendly wave conditions, thereby increasing the chances of finding the eight passengers of the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat.

On the previous day, the seventh day of searching, the joint SAR team faced overcast conditions, with winds blowing from the south-east at 10-20 knots and wave heights ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 metres.

According to reports, the sea-surface search area covers 4,586 square nautical miles, while the air sector covers 2,063 square nautical miles, bringing the total search area to approximately 6,649 square nautical miles.