September 11, 2026 | 12:57 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Police have expanded the search for five journalists and three crew members who lost contact while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. The search area has been extended to the surrounding waters of Lampung.
Head of Public Relations at the Lampung Regional Police, Sr. Comr. Yuni Iswandari, stated that authorities are continuing efforts to locate the victims. "The search area will be expanded," Yuni said in a written statement on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
Yuni noted that the victims were last reported missing in the Sunda Strait, Banten. However, authorities are also considering the possibility that strong ocean currents carried them toward Lampung waters.
According to Yuni, search operations began shortly after the loss of contact. Joint teams continue to patrol and search the sea to locate the missing group. "As of now, there is still no clue about their whereabouts," Yuni said.
Police plan to conduct another sweep using search vessels. Additionally, aerial searches utilizing helicopters will be deployed if weather conditions around the area permit.
Yuni added that police have opened communication channels for the public to submit any information regarding the victims' whereabouts following the incident. "There may be information or updates if they are found at sea," Yuni said.
The Banten National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) initially received reports of the missing media crew on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 13:55 WIB. The report was submitted by a colleague of one of the missing journalists from the Antara News Agency.
The group departed for Mount Anak Krakatau on Monday, September 7, 2026. They set sail at 14:00 WIB from Carita Pier in Pandeglang, Banten, heading toward the volcano with an estimated travel time of two hours.
Loss of contact occurred at 14:42 WIB on the same day, when the boat was estimated to be in waters between Carita and Mount Anak Krakatau. By 18:13 WIB, their signal was last detected in the vicinity of the volcano.
Head of Banten Basarnas, Al Amrad, stated that the group remained missing as of Tuesday evening, September 8, 2026. "Still no trace; the search operation remains ongoing," Amrad told Tempo.
On the third day of search operations, search teams retrieved an unidentified orange life vest. "An identification process will be conducted first," said Commander of the Banten Naval Base, Lt. Col. Wawan Subagyo Mardani, on Thursday, September 10, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
The eight missing individuals include boat captain Warta (55); crew member Surakman (60); guide Heriyanto (49); and five journalists: M. Bagus Khoirunnas (Antara), Ari Basuki (Merdeka), Yudhis (iNews), Daus (Anadolu), and Donal (freelance journalist).
Read: Basarnas Deploys Helicopter in Search for Missing Journalist
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