Search for missing journalists expanded to Lampung waters
The Lampung Regional Police have expanded search efforts for five journalists and three crew members who were reported to have lost contact while sailing from Carita Beach, Pandeglar Regency, Banten, towards the Gunung Anak Krakatau (GAK) area in the Sunda Strait.
“The search area will be expanded to include several waters within the legal jurisdiction of the Lampung Regional Police,” said the Head of Public Relations for the Lampung Regional Police, Kombes Pol Yuni Iswandari, confirmed from Bandar Lampung on Thursday.
She stated that this step was taken as a precaution in case the victims were carried by currents into Lampung waters.
“We are anticipating the possibility that the victims may have been carried towards Lampung waters. We hope that through these efforts, there will be a breakthrough and information regarding the whereabouts of our colleagues,” she said.
The Lampung Regional Police emphasised that they will continue to assist the search process alongside police units and SAR teams to find clarity regarding the whereabouts of the five journalists and three crew members.
Following the vessel incident in Banten waters, she noted that the Lampung Regional Police and joint SAR teams have been deployed to conduct searches by patrolling waters within the Lampung Regional Police’s jurisdiction.
“Previously, Water Police personnel, along with Basarnas, DKO Mabes personnel, and the Lampung Regional Police Brimob, have been deployed to patrol around Sebesi Island and several areas of Lampung waters,” she said.
“Yesterday (9/9), we deployed two teams. The first team consisted of Water Police, DKO Mabes, and Basarnas personnel. The second team consisted of six Water Police members and five Brimob members who also searched Lampung waters, but no breakthrough has been found regarding their whereabouts,” said Yuni Iswandari.
She added that the Lampung Regional Police plan to conduct further searches using boats. Additionally, aerial searches via helicopter are being prepared, provided that weather conditions permit.
She expressed concern over the incident. “We are certainly concerned about this event; hopefully, our colleagues can be found with good news,” she said.
Based on initial information, the group departed from Pagedongan Pier, Carita, Pandeglang, on Monday (7/9/2026) at approximately 14:00 WIB. One journalist managed to send their last known location at approximately 14:42 WIB. However, communication with the group was subsequently lost at around 15:04 WIB.
Since then, their whereabouts have remained unknown. SAR teams have since been conducting searches based on the last known communication points and locations.
The five identified journalists are M. Bagus Khoirunnas from ANTARA, Ari Basuki from Merdeka, Yudhis from iNews, Daus from Anadolu, and Donal, a freelance journalist. In addition to the five journalists, there were three crew members also on board the speedboat.