Search for Speedboat with Five Journalists Remains Unsuccessful; SAR Operations to Continue Today
The joint SAR team has been conducting search operations for the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat, which lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait, Pandeglang Regency, Banten. However, the search for the eight victims, including five photojournalists, has not yet yielded any results.
The Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, stated that the joint SAR team has optimised all available resources and facilities to expand the search area. On the ninth day of the operation, Wednesday (16/09/2026), the search was extended as far as the waters of Bengkulu.
“Sweeping was conducted in several areas of the Sunda Strait waters, including around Mount Anak Krakatau, Ujung Kulon, Panaitan Island, Sebesi Island, up to the Lampung waters. However, as of the end of the operation, the search results remain nil,” he said in a statement on Wednesday night.
He explained that 22 naval assets were deployed to sweep the search area, which has been divided into eight sectors covering a total area of approximately 3,439 square nautical miles. The operation involves elements from Basarnas, the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), the Polri (Indonesian National Police), and other potential SAR contributors.
The sweeping process covered areas from the western part of Belimbing Bay, the north-western part of Panaitan Island, Ujung Kulon waters, to several areas around Mount Anak Krakatau. The search also extended to the western and coastal areas of Anyer-Carita, the waters around Sebesi Island, Sibuku Island, and the Lampung maritime region.
Al Amrad mentioned that the assets involved in the search include KRI Dewa Kembar, KRI Leuser, KRI Lepu, KRI Kerambit, KRI Teluk Gilimanuk, KN SAR Tetuka, KN SAR Basudewa, KN SAR Antasena, KN Damaru, KAL Anyer, KAL Pahowang, KP Sanjaya, RIB 02 Banten, RIB 02 Lampung, RBB Pulau Peucang, and several KP Polairud vessels.
In addition to the maritime search, the joint SAR team also conducted monitoring using two Basarnas thermal drones. Search efforts have been expanded through coordination with the Bengkulu SAR Office to conduct land sweeps and monitoring using rubber boats along the coast of Enggano Island and the waters of Bengkulu.