What We Know So Far After a Week of Searching for Missing Journalists
A week has passed since five journalists and three boat crew members went missing in the Sunda Strait. The journalists, who were travelling to report on Mount Anak Krakatau, have still not been found.
As compiled by detikcom on Tuesday (15/9/2026), the journalists and crew were first reported missing on Monday (7/9). They were declared missing after all communication links were lost at 15.04 Western Indonesia Time that day.
Various efforts have been made by the joint SAR team, although a week on there is still no news of the journalists being found. Everything from expanding the search area to combing nearby islands has been carried out.
Here is what is known so far, one week into the search for the journalists:
- 18 Vessels Deployed
The search for the eight people reported missing near Mount Anak Krakatau is still ongoing. On the seventh day of searching yesterday, the joint SAR team deployed 18 sea vessels and one helicopter.
“For the equipment we are using on this seventh day, we have 18 sea vessels and one HR-3604 helicopter belonging to Basarnas,” said Head of Operations at Basarnas Banten, Rizky Dwiyanto, on Monday (14/9).
Rizky said the search has been divided into several sectors: Sector X with a search area of 831 square nautical miles, Sector Z with 512 square nautical miles, Sector V with 1,182 square nautical miles, Sector W with 1,167 square nautical miles, Sector U with 481 square nautical miles, and Sector Y with 413 square nautical miles. The total search area is 6,649 square nautical miles.
“The total search area on this seventh day is 6,649 square nautical miles,” said Rizky.
Rizky said the search for the five journalists, two crew members and one guide is focused on Sector X, with 11 vessels deployed. According to him, the team has made several findings in this area during the search.
“For Sector X, there have been several findings from the third day up to yesterday, so we will conduct another sweep and focus more there — that is why we are increasing the number of assets in that area,” he said.
- Surrounding Islands Combed
Not only that, the joint SAR team is also conducting a land-based search for the eight missing people. Three islands located near Mount Anak Krakatau are being combed.
“The land sweep is planned along the coastal waters from Carita Beach to Anyar Beach. For the island areas, we will continue to carry out land searches, especially around Mount Anak Krakatau,” said Rizky.
“Sertung Island, Rakata Besar, Panjang Island,” he continued.
- Tarpaulins and a Water Container Found
The joint SAR team found several items on the sixth day of the search. The team discovered tarpaulins, life jackets and a water container.
“Two tarpaulins, three orange jackets and one water container,” said Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, at the joint SAR post in Carita, Pandeglang, on Sunday (13/9).
However, these items turned out to be unrelated to the eight missing people. Al Amrad said the joint team has also not yet found any leads on the whereabouts of the victims.
- Five Journalists and Three Crew Last Detected at Sebesi Island
The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has provided an update on the condition of the eight missing people. Komdigi established their last known coordinates as being at Sebesi Island.
“From the outset, after receiving this information, Komdigi brought in all mobile operators and infrastructure under the ministry to monitor signals or traces of smartphone usage in the area where this loss of contact is believed to have occurred,” said Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Nezar Patria at the joint SAR post at Carita Beach, Pandeglang, on Saturday (12/9).
Komdigi detected the coordinates of the five journalists and three others as being in the Sebesi Island area on 7 September.
“As we know, the last data we received was the last contact on 7 September, located at Sebesi Island, so we continue to monitor and keep searching,” he added.
Nezar said Komdigi has coordinated with three mobile operators to keep detecting the coordinates of the victims. To date, the coordinates have only been detected at Sebesi Island.
“At Komdigi we have coordinated with the three mobile operators, all detecting the base transceiver stations around the Sunda Strait, both in Banten and Lampung, through monitoring centres in Banten and Lampung. We continue to check for any signals that are picked up,” he said.
“From the operators we have obtained information, and that information has been forwarded to the SAR team and processed to determine the last contact at Sebesi Island,” he added.
- SAR Team Extends Search for Five Journalists and Three Crew
The joint SAR team has not given up searching for the eight missing people. The team has decided to extend the search for a further three days.
“I convey the evaluation of the SAR operation results on the seventh day, which we carried out today, and it remains fruitless. Based on the coordination meeting reported by the Governor, we will continue for the next three days,” said Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, at the joint SAR post in Carita, Pandeglang, on Monday (14/9).
Al Amrad said every search effort by the SAR team is based on data issued by BMKG and PVMBG. During the extension, the team will continue to deploy its standby fleet.
“As usual, from day one to day seven we re-evaluate what our challenges are and which areas we have not yet covered,” said Al Amrad.
- Search Hampered by Fog and Krakatau Smoke
The joint SAR team has faced a number of obstacles during the search for the five journalists and three crew members, including fog and smoke from Mount Anak Krakatau.
The problem of smoke was raised by Head of Basarnas, Air Marshal M Syafii, during the search on Thursday (10/9).
“Today I am present here; earlier we also went with aircraft and entered the waters. But the current situation is that visibility is indeed limited — what we are seeing is essentially smoke,” said Syafii at the National SAR Post at Marina Carita Beach, Pandeglang, on Thursday (10/9).
According to Syafii, volcanic smoke was still present at altitudes below 1,500 metres. This has prevented the search from being conducted from the air.
“Personally, from the aircraft earlier, I did not see anything,” he said.
Then, on Monday (14/9), the joint SAR team also encountered fog. The foggy conditions reduced visibility to around one nautical mile.
“The weather is foggy with visibility of around one nautical mile,” said Head of the Bakauheni SAR Post at Basarnas Lampung, Rezie Kuswara, as quoted by Antara.