Guide on Journalist Boat Sent Photo of Anak Krakatau Before Losing Contact
Five journalists and three crew members on a boat have lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait while preparing to report on Mount Anak Krakatau. Heriyanto, a tour guide on the vessel, managed to send a photo of Mount Anak Krakatau to a WhatsApp group before the disappearance.
The photo shows Mount Anak Krakatau emitting smoke, with no other islands obstructing the view of the volcano. Heriyanto’s colleague, Yandi, stated that the photo was sent to the group on Monday (7/9/202 moving towards 2026), at 18:13 WIB. At that time, Heriyanto reported that they had reached the vicinity of Mount Anak Krakatau.
Yandi attempted to reply to the photo and sent a direct message to Heriyanto, but the messages were not delivered, showing only a single tick. “I suspect the photo was taken between 4:00 and 5:00 PM, and sent when the phone suddenly caught a signal,” Yandi said on Thursday (10/9).
Yandi and other Krakatau tourism activists suggested that the photo was likely taken in the area between Sertung Island and the volcano. It is known that eight people lost contact after sailing near Mount Anak Krakatau on Monday (7/9). The five journalists on the speedboat include M Bagus Khoirunnas from ANTARA, Ari Basuki from Merdeka.com, Yudistiro Pranoto from iNews, Firman Daus from Anadolu Agency, and Donal Husni, a freelance journalist.
They departed from the Carita area, Pandeglang, alongside Warta (speedboat captain), Sukarman (crew member), and Heriyanto (guide) to cover the volcano.
In a previous development, the wife of one of the missing journalists suggested that the group might have landed on Sertung Island and requested that the SAR (Search and Rescue) team check the area. Desi, the wife of ANTARA journalist Bagus Khoirunnas, spoke with Banten Governor Andra Soni at the National SAR Post at Marina Carita Beach, Pandeglang, on Wednesday (9/9).
Desi mentioned receiving information that one of the guides, Heriyanto, sent a photo confirming their location near Krakatau. The photo clearly shows Mount Anak Krakatau with white smoke billowing, and it is estimated the photo was taken near Sertung Island.
According to Desi, her husband had discussed plans with a friend regarding landing on Sertung. Therefore, she suspects the group may have disembarked. “He did mention, ‘Is it possible to land at Sertung?’” Desi told Andra. “Bang Yandi recommended, ‘If it is not feasible, do not land.’ But we do not know their situation, Sir. Whether they landed or not, we do not know.”
It is noted that Sertung Island, along with Rakata Island and Krakatau, lies within a 3-kilometre radius of the Mount Anak Krakatau crater. This area must be avoided as Mount Anak Krakatau is currently at Level III (Alert) status.