SAR Team Finds Helmets and Jackets During Search in Sunda Strait
The SAR team has discovered four items consisting of jerrycans, a helmet, and two jackets during the search for eight people who lost contact in the waters of the Sundette Strait on the fifth day of the SAR operation.
The Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, stated that these items were found by the KN SAR Tetuka during a sweep lasting approximately 10 hours in the waters south of Mount Anak Krakatau.
“At 10:05 WIB, KN SAR Tetuka found a blue oil jerrycan,” Al Amrad said in Pandeglang on Saturday night. After finding the jerrycan, the team continued monitoring and sweeping the surrounding search area.
At 12:33 WIB, the team discovered a red helmet. The search continued until the afternoon, and at 17:10 WIB, the team found an orange life jacket. “And at 18:09 WIB, another orange jacket was found,” Al Amrad added.
Basarnas has not yet confirmed whether the discovered items are related to the speedboat carrying five journalists and three others who have been missing since Monday (7/9). Al Amrad stated that the findings will be followed up and used as material for evaluation by the Joint SAR Team to determine the next search steps.
“We will evaluate today’s search results; the findings will serve as a basis for expanding the search area,” he said.
On the fifth day, the Joint SAR Team expanded the search via sea and air, dividing the search area into several sectors within the Sunda Strait waters.
The eight individuals currently being sought departed via speedboat from Pegedongan Pier, Carita, Pandeglang Regency, on Monday (7/9) at approximately 14:00 WIB, heading towards the Mount Anak Krakatau area.
Five of the missing individuals are journalists, namely M. Bagus Khoirunnas from ANTARA, Ari Basuki from Merdeka, Yudhistiro Pranoto from iNews, Firman Daus from Anadolu, and Donal Husni, a freelance journalist. The other three are Warta, the captain; Surakman, a crew member; and Heriyanto, a guide.
The Joint SAR Team continues the search for the eight individuals and is evaluating every finding that could potentially provide clues regarding their whereabouts.