Search for Five Journalists Missing While Covering Anak Krakatau Extended After Seven Days Yield No Results

Pandeglang, VIVA – The Joint SAR Team has extended the search operation for five journalists and three residents who lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait. The search for the eight individuals will continue for the next three days.

This decision was made after the search operation entered its seventh day without yielding any results.

The Head of the Banten SAR Office, Al Amrad, stated that the extension of the SAR operation was the result of an evaluation and meeting involving all elements of the Joint SAR Team.

“The evaluation of the SAR operation on the seventh day we conducted has still yielded nothing, and as a result of the Joint SAR Team meeting, we will continue the search for the next three days,” he said on Monday, 14 September 2026.

With this decision, the team will once again sweep the waters around Mount Anak Krakatau. The eight individuals being sought were known to be aboard the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat before losing contact.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Banten, Andra Soni, stated that the extension of the search operation is possible based on existing laws and regulations.

According to him, the search is fundamentally conducted for seven days. However, this period can be extended by considering several factors, including requests from families and local governments.

“The search period is stated as seven days, but it can be extended for several reasons, one of which is upon the request of the families and also the request from the local government,” he said.

Based on these considerations, the Banten Provincial Government has requested Basarnas to continue the search operation involving all relevant stakeholders.

Andra also requested support from the Banten Regional Police, the Banten Naval Base, and all related elements to optimise the search during the additional three days.

“We will maximise our efforts and strive to find our brothers and sisters,” said Andra Soni.