Fourth Day: 13 Vessels Deployed to Search for 5 Missing Journalists
Pandeglang, VIVA – The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed 13 vessels on the fourth day of the search for five journalists who lost contact while reporting on the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau across four sectors.
The Head of the Banten SAR Office, Al Amrad, stated that the 13 pieces of military and rescue equipment deployed for the fourth day of the operation include KRI Kerambit 627, KN SAR Tetuka, KP Hayabusa, KN SAR Basudewa, KRI Leuser 924, KAL Anyer, KP Sanjaya, RIB 02 Banten, RBB P Peucang, RIB Lampung, KAL Pahowang, TB Gunung Santri, and KRI Lepu.
“For today, we are moving 13 assets divided into four sectors,” he said at the Marina Carita SAR Post, Pandegeland, Banten, on Friday.
He explained that, firstly, vessels will traverse Sector A, which covers a search area of approximately 1,026 nautical miles, using KRI Kerambit, KP Sanjaya, and KAL Pahawang. “Because the area is quite vast, we are using three assets, positioned in the open sea, approximately near Tanjung Belimbing, Lampung,” he noted.
For Sector B, the search area covers approximately 1,020 nautical miles, utilising KRI Leuser and KAL Anyer to search the western region of Lampung Island.
In Sector C, the search area covers approximately 585 nautical miles, involving two assets: KN SAR Basudewa from Lampung and a RIB based in Lampung. “This is positioned north of Tanjung Belimbing. KN SAR is conducting searches in the central area, while the RIB is sweeping the coastline of Tanjung Belimbing,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Sector D, covering approximately 585 nautical miles, will be traversed using KAL Hayabusa, positioned from north of Sector C up to Tanjung Panaitan.
“We have also added several sectors outside of those initial four. We have been doing this since the first day through to the third day,” said Amrad.
He added that today, the joint SAR team is also re-verifying areas around the islands near Mount Anak Krakatau, including Sebesi Island.