Sertung Island Checked, SAR Team Has Not Found Missing Journalists Near Anak Krakatau
The joint SAR team has successfully landed and inspected Sertung Island and two other islands around Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait. However, no signs or clues have been found regarding the whereabouts of five journalists and three ship crew members who went missing.
“The result is nil,” said Al Amrad, Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), on Friday (11/09/2026).
He also stated that the RIB 02 Banten and RIB 02 Lampung vessels, accompanied by KN SAR Tetuka, have traversed three islands around Mount Anak Krakatau: Rakata Island, Panjang Island, and Sertung Island.
“Alhamdulillah, the weather today was very supportive, and the conditions at Mount Anak Krakatau were also favourable, allowing the team to dock at the three islands and go ashore to conduct the search,” said Amrad.
Amrad noted that the conditions of Mount Anak Krakatau were conducive to the search process. The team inspecting Sertung Island also wore personal protective equipment (PPE).
“The colleagues performing the task carried complete PPE. With the support of favourable weather and safe conditions at Anak Krakatau, we were able to dock and move onto the land,” he added.
Amrad did not yet specify the plans for the following day’s search, noting that an evaluation and the formulation of a new search plan would take place on Saturday (12/09), marking the fifth day of the operation.
“Regarding the future search, we will evaluate all the primary equipment used in today’s SAR operation, including how to expand the search area. This includes the division of sectors for tomorrow,” he said.
Al Amrad stated that during today’s search, the joint SAR team was divided into four sectors plus a special sector. He also mentioned that the SAR team deployed the HR 3604 helicopter to search for the victims.
“One sector involved the HR TNI Rescue 3604 conducting a sweep for approximately one hour in the area around the last known position and the point where the speedboat lost contact. By 17:00 WIB, it had landed safely in Carita with no findings,” he said.
He added that the RIB 02 Banten and RIB 02 Lampung vessels, accompanied by KN SAR Tetuka, had scoured the three islands around Mount Anak Krakatau, where the team also conducted land searches.
“They conducted sweeps around Mount Anak Krakatau, specifically at three points on the islands: Sertung Island, Panjang Island, and they performed land searches,” he said.
The five journalists who lost contact are M Bagus Khoirunnas (Antara), Ari Basuki (Merdeka.com), Yudistiro Pranoto (iNews), Firman Daus (Anadolu Agency), and Donal Husni (freelance). Meanwhile, the three crew members are Warta (captain), Sukarman (crew), and Heriyanto (guide).
The SAR team continues the search for the five journalists who lost contact while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait. The joint SAR team is currently scouring the islands surrounding Mount Anak Krakatau.