SAR operation for five journalists halted after 10-day search

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Hopes of finding five journalists and three crew members who lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait have not been realised after the joint SAR team conducted a search for 10 days.

The operation regarding the speedboat Arupadatu I, which carried the group, was officially halted on Thursday (17/9), after all search efforts failed to find any sign of the vessel or the eight people on board.

The group had previously departed to cover activities at Mount Anak Krakatau. They consisted of five journalists and three crew members who, as of the final day of the operation, remain missing.

Initial loss of contact

The Arupadute I speedboat departed from Pagedongan Pier, Carita, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, on Monday (7/9/2026) at approximately 14:00 WIB. The group was heading towards the Mount Anak Krakatau area to report on volcanic activity.

The five journalists in the group were M. Bagus Khoirunnas from ANTARA News, Arie Basuki from Merdeka.com, Yudistiro Pranoto from iNews, Firdaus Wajidi from Anadolu Agency, and Donal Husni, a freelance journalist. The other three members were Warta as the ship’s captain, Surakman as a crew member, and Heriyanto as a guide.

One member of the group sent their last known location at approximately 14:42 WIB. Following this, communication with the group was lost at around 15:04 WIB in the waters between Carita and Mount Anak Krakatau.

The first day of searching

The report of the loss of contact was followed up by the Banten Search and Rescue Office on Tuesday (8/9). The joint SAR team immediately conducted searches around the last known location of the vessel.

Sweeps were carried out via sea and air involving various agencies. The team searched for the possible location of the vessel based on the last communication point and calculations of current movements around the Sunda Strait. In the early stages, weather and sea conditions posed significant challenges, with strong winds and waves reaching 1 to 2 metres.

On Wednesday (9/9), the search entered its second day. The joint SAR team began sweeping from approximately 07:00 WIB. The search area was divided into four Search and Rescue Units (SRU) to expand the scope of the operation, involving approximately 250 personnel.

However, by the end of the second day, the vessel and the eight people on board had not been found. The search was temporarily halted for evaluation and resumed the following day.

Third day, life jacket found

On Thursday (10/9), the search was expanded. The joint SAR team divided the operational area into six sectors, covering a total of approximately 2,483 square nautical miles. On the same day, Indonesian Navy personnel found an unidentified life jacket in the Cikoneng-Labuan waters, Banten. Although this finding drew attention, officials could not confirm if the life jacket belonged to the Arupadatu I. The team subsequently conducted further in-depth searches.

Fourth day, search focused around Anak Krakatau

On Friday (11/9), the search entered its fourth day. The SAR team focused sweeping efforts within a radius near Mount Anak Krakatau. Four search sectors and one special sector were prepared, including the area around the islands near the volcano, approximately 3 kilometres away. The team also searched Rakata Island, Sertung Island, and Panjang Island, but neither the vessel nor the group was found. The fourth day of searching also faced obstacles such as volcanic ash, strong winds, and fluctuating sea conditions.

Fifth day, items discovered

Saturday (12/9) marked the fifth day of searching. The SAR team not only conducted sea sweeps but also strengthened aerial searches by deploying the Basarnas HR-3604 helicopter. On that day, the team found several items including life jackets, helmets, and jerry cans. A blue oil jerry can was found at approximately 10:05 WIB, while a red helmet was found at approximately 12:00 WIB. Nevertheless, it could not be confirmed if these items were related to the Arupadatu I. Searches around Mount Anak Krakatau and Sertung Island also failed to locate the group.

Sixth day, search expanded

On Sunday (13/9), the operation entered its sixth day. The SAR team expanded the sweep to several areas around the Sunda Strait. The search focused on the sea route from Bakauheni to Sangiang Island. The team also continued to calculate the possibility of the vessel’s position shifting due to currents and sea conditions. However, by the end of the sixth day, no clues confirming the whereabouts of the eight individuals had been found. Strong waves and currents remained a challenge for the field teams.

Seventh day, 18 vessels and a helicopter deployed

On Monday (14/9), the search entered its seventh day. The joint SAR team deployed 18 sea vessels and one Basarnas HR-3604 helicopter. The operational area was divided into several sectors, with the total search area expanding further. Sweeps were conducted based on calculations of currents, wind, and the potential movement of objects at sea. By the end of the seventh day, the team still found no sign of the Arupadatu I or the eight people on board. Following an evaluation, the operation was extended for three days.

Eighth day, search continues

On Tuesday (15/9), the search entered the first day of its extension, marking the eighth day overall. The SAR team resumed sweeping around Mount Anak Krakatau. One effort involved bringing search equipment within approximately 500 metres of the coast of Mount Anak Krakatau, utilising drones and maritime search devices. However, the results remained nil. There were no signs to confirm the presence of the vessel or the eight people being sought.