Search for Five Journalists in Sunda Strait Continues This Morning
Basarnas has continued the search for a group of journalists and fast boat crew members who lost contact while covering activities at Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, on Thursday (10/9) morning.
“Basarnas, along with field elements, will optimise all available resources. We ask for your prayers so that the search process for the victims can proceed smoothly, safely, and securely, and that all victims can be found,” said Basarnas Deputy of Operations and Preparedness, Edy Prakess, as quoted from Antara on Wednesday (9/9).
Edy stated that the search operation on Thursday (10/9) morning will implement a strategy focused on the northern side of the Mount Anak Krakatau area, while adjusting for currents, wave shifts, and wind direction.
Edy also issued an appeal to the public and maritime operators passing through the Sunda Strait waters to strictly follow the directives of the Centre for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) to avoid entering the danger zone within a 3-kilometre radius of the active crater peak of Mount Anak Krakatau.
A total of eight people are being sought, including five journalists: MBagus Khoirunnas (ANTARA News Agency), Ari Basuki (Merdeka.com), Yudhistiro (iNews), Firdaus (Anadolu), and Donal (freelance journalist); as well as three others: Warta (boat captain), Surakman (crew member), and Heriyanto (guide).
The initial search operation conducted by the Banten SAR Office on Tuesday (8/9) deployed the KN SAR Tetuka and RIB-02 within a 3.2-kilometre radius of Mount Anak Krakatau, but the search targets have yet to be located.
On Wednesday (9/9), the SAR team expanded the search area, dividing a 68.3 nautical mile zone into four Search and Rescue Units (SRU) and deploying a large-scale, multi-agency SAR fleet.
The deployed fleet includes the KN SAR Tetuka from Basarnas; KRI Loser, KRI Kerambit, KRI Lepu, KAL Anyer, and KAL Pahawang from the Indonesian Navy; KP Sanjaya from the Water Police; as well as three Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) units from the Banten and Lampung SAR Offices, alongside local SAR potential including volunteers and fishermen.
“From the series of operations up to this point, the search results remain nil,” said Edy, who was accompanied by the Director of Preparedness of Basarnas, Noer Isrodin, and the Director of Operations of Basarnas, Yudhi Bramantyo.
Mount Anak Krakatau has been experiencing eruptions since Friday (4/9) at 23:07 WIB, with volcanic ash spreading across multiple provinces.
Currently, the activity level of Mount Anak Krakatau is at Level III (Alert). Under these conditions, the public must remain vigilant against potential hazards such as lava flows, incandescent rock projections, pyroclastic flows, and volcanic ash rain.