MPR Urges Public to Pray for Journalists Missing in Sunda Strait

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Speaker of the MPR, Ahmad Muzani, has invited the public to offer prayers for the safety of five journalists and three crew members who have lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, while reporting on the volcanic activity of Mount Anak Krakatau.

“The MPR RI invites all Indonesian people to pray so that the five individuals can be found safe and sound without any harm,” Muzani stated in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.

He expressed deep concern regarding the incident, praying that the search patrols conducted by the joint team of the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) and volunteers would yield results as soon as possible.

“To the families who are waiting for news until this day, may Allah SWT grant them fortitude,” said Muzani.

The Head of the Banten SAR Office, Al Amrad, in Pandeglang, stated on Thursday that the search operation on the southern side has fully covered a radius of approximately 20 nautical miles from the centre of Mount Anak Krakatau.

Nevertheless, on Thursday, the joint SAR team planned to expand the search area to the northern side while remaining around the Mount Anak Krakatau area. This expansion is being adjusted based on calculations of currents, wave shifts, and wind direction.

His office will also continue to add personnel and vessels, following an evaluation conducted on Wednesday (9/9).

“The ongoing operation is focused on searching, considering that the terrain conditions do not allow for direct rescue evacuations,” said Amrad.

Five journalists along with three ship crew members were reported to have lost contact in the Sunda Strait waters on Monday (7/9).

The five journalists are M. Bagus Khoirunnas (ANTARA News Banten Bureau), Ari Basuki (Merdeka), Yudhis (iNews), Daus (Anadolu News Agency), and Donal (freelance journalist).