Three Indonesian Navy Ships Deployed in Search for Journalists

Pandeglang (ANTARA) - Three Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) vessels have been deployed by the joint search and rescue (SAR) team to optimise the search operation for five journalists who lost contact in the waters of the Sunda Strait while covering activities at Mount Anak Krakatau, Pandeglang, Banten.

The Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, stated in Pandeglang on Thursday that the three warships involved are KRI Leuser-924, KRI Kerambit-627, and KRI Lepu-861.

“The deployment of these warships is intended to strengthen the search operation and expand the sweeping area within the Sunda Strait waters,” he said.

He added that the Navy has also deployed several other vessel units, namely KAL Anyer I.3-64 and RHIB Peucang from the Banten Naval Base, as well as KAL Siaga from the Lampung Naval Base.

“Large Navy vessels will continue to be involved. We will monitor wind and current predictions, as we may expand the search towards the north,” he noted.

On the second day of the search, the joint SAR team divided the search area into several sectors, involving approximately nine vessel units and seven Search and Rescue Units (SRU).

He revealed that KN SAR Tetuka is sweeping up to 68.3 nautical miles (NM) and KAL Anyer up to 69.5 NM, while other units are conducting sweeps around Sebesi Island, Sebuku Island, Rakata, Pulau Panjang, and the Mount Anak Krakatau area.

KRI Leuser and KRI Lepu have also been deployed to sweep designated sectors. However, by the end of the second day of searching, no signs of the missing individuals have been found.

“The search will be expanded to the northern side of Mount Anak Krakatau after the southern region has been swept within a radius of approximately 20 nautical miles,” he said.