Three Indonesian Navy Warships Deployed to Search for Five Journalists Missing in Anak Krakatau Waters
Three Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) warships have been involved in a joint search and rescue (SAR) operation to optimise the search for five journalists who lost contact in the Sunda Strait waters while covering activities at Mount Anak Krakatau, Pandeglang, Banten. The Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, stated on Thursday (10/09/2026) that the three warships deployed are KRI Leuser-924, KRI Kerambit-627, and KRI Lepu-861.
“The deployment of warships is being carried out to strengthen the search operation and simultaneously expand the sweeping area in the Sunda Strait waters,” he said.
Amrad added that the Navy has also deployed several other vessel elements, namely KAL Anyer I.3-64 and RHIB Peucang from Lanal Banten, as well as KAL Siaga from Lanal Lampung.
“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.
He stated that the search on the third day will continue by expanding the area based on wind and sea current conditions. The sweeping will be conducted in both the southern and northern positions of Mount Anak Krakatau, following the last known activity of the journalists reporting at the location.
“On the second day of the search, the joint SAR team divided the search area into several sectors, involving approximately nine vessel elements and seven Search and Rescue Units (SRU),” he said.
He revealed that KN SAR Tetuka swept up to 68.3 nautical miles (NM) and KAL Anyer up to 69.5 NM, while other elements conducted sweeps around Sebesi Island, Sebuku Island, Rakata, Panjang Island, 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 (NM),” he concluded.