Three Indonesian Navy Ships Assist in Search for Missing Journalists in Sunda Strait

Three vessels from the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) have been deployed as part of a joint search and rescue team to locate five journalists who lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait while reporting on the activity of Mount Anak Krakatau, Pandeglang, Banten. According to the Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, the three ships involved are KRI Leuser-924, KRI Kerambit-627, and KRI Lepu-861.

“The deployment of these ships strengthens the search operation and expands the sweeping area within the Sunda Strait waters,” he stated on Thursday (10/9).

The Navy has also deployed several other naval elements, including KAL Anyer I.3-64 and RHIB Peucang from the Banten Naval Base, as well as KAL Siaga from the Lampung Naval Base. He noted that the search area will be expanded, taking into account current and weather conditions.

“We are expanding the search towards the north,” he added.

The search for the journalists who lost contact in the Sunda Strait has entered its third day. The search area will be widened based on wind and sea current conditions.

Sweeping operations will be conducted to the south and north of Mount Anak Krakatau, following the last known locations of the journalists covering the site.

“The joint SAR team has divided the search area into several sectors, involving approximately nine naval elements and seven Search and Rescue Units,” he said.

Local residents along the coast of Carita Beach, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, have also been assisting in the search for the group of journalists. The joint SAR team has deployed seven Search and Rescue Units (SRU) to locate the missing group.

As of Thursday (10/9), the joint SAR team has expanded the search area towards the north of Mount Anak Krakatau and established a coordination post in Carita to monitor the evacuation efforts. Banten Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Hengki, is also considering aerial search methods, while closely monitoring weather and volcanic eruption conditions.