Search for Five Journalists and Three Crew Members in Sunda Strait Terminated After 10 Days
The joint SAR team has yet to locate the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat as of the tenth day of the search on Thursday (17/09/2026). The whereabouts of the eight individuals on board, including five photojournalists, remain unknown.
Banten Governor Andra Soni stated that the search for the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat had been conducted for seven days, with a three-day extension. However, to date, no signs of the vessel, its passengers, or its crew have been found. Consequently, the joint SAR team has decided to cease the operation.
“Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency) has indicated that because the search and rescue plan was deemed ineffective, the joint operation by the relevant authorities is, with heavy hearts, declared terminated,” he said on Thursday night.
He noted that the joint SAR team had discovered several objects during the operation. According to him, a total of 13 objects were found; however, after verification, none were found to be related to the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat.
Despite the termination, Andra said that SAR operations could be resumed if information from the public regarding the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat emerges. “This operation can be reactivated or carried out again if new clues are discovered that could reopen evacuation processes or efforts,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to all parties involved in the SAR operation conducted over the past 10 days. Furthermore, he expressed his condolences regarding the disappearance of the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat.
“We express our deep concern over the failure to find our friends and families aboard the Arupadhatu 1. We hope to receive information that we can follow up on,” he said.
It is reported that eight people are missing in the incident. The eight victims consist of Warta, the ship’s captain; Surakman, a crew member; Heriyanto, a guide; and five journalists, namely M Bagus Khoerunnas from Antara, Arie Basuki from Merdeka, Yudhistiro Pranoto from iNews, Firdaus Wajidi from Anadolu, and Donal Husni, a freelance journalist.