SAR teams sweep waters near Anak Krakatau to search for missing journalists
The drone remains stationed on one of the vessels. We have prepared it for today as well, but given the field conditions where wind direction can change unexpectedly, we must remain vigilant.
The Head of Banten SAR, Al Amrad, stated that the joint search and rescue operation has expanded its search sector towards the waters near the edges of Mount Anak Krakatau. He noted that this expansion is being conducted with a primary focus on safety, considering the ongoing volcanic activity and the alert status of the weather in the surrounding waters.
“We are monitoring the development of Mount Anak Krakatau’s activity. Yesterday, there was a request to see if we could enter this area (Anak Krakatau). However, we will only proceed if conditions are deemed safe; safety remains our top priority,” Al Amrad said in Pandeglang on Thursday.
Additionally, on this third day of the search operation, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) have been deployed on ships to maximise visual range. Nevertheless, the SAR team remains wary of maritime meteorological factors, including the dynamic wind patterns around the Sunda Strait.
He further added that the joint SAR team will execute the operation through a structured division of work zones, spanning from ports in Banten to the waters of Lampung.
“To provide some information regarding the operational permits for today, we have divided the area into sectors. This includes coverage from Ciwandan Port, KN SAR Basudewa, and the Lampung SAR Office, with KRI Beserta and Lepu moving from the Lampung region,” he explained.
During this joint SAR operation, several naval assets have been deployed, including KRI Lepu, KN SAR Tetuka, KN SAR Basudewa, KAL Pohawang, KP Sanjaya, and Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) units from Banten 02.
In addition to searching the open sea, the SAR team is also optimising the role of local fishermen to cover coastal areas. “In Sector E, after assisting our colleagues, we will support local fishermen as they conduct searches along the coasts of Banten,” he added.