Anak Krakatau search expands for missing journalists, crew: Basarnas

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has deployed all available personnel and assets to find eight people, including five journalists, who lost contact while covering Mount Anak Krakataus activity in the Sunda Strait, Banten.

The search would resume Thursday (September 10) morning, focusing on the northern side of Mount Anak Krakatau while adjusting operations to currents, wave movements and wind direction, Basarnas Operations and Preparedness Deputy Edy Prakoso said in Jakarta on Wednesday night.

Basarnas and field teams will optimize all available resources. Please pray the search proceeds smoothly, safely and successfully, and that all victims are found, he said.

The eight missing people comprise five journalists: M Bagus Khoirunnas of ANTARA News Agency, Ari Basuki of Merdeka.com, Yudhistiro of iNews, Firdaus of Anadolu News Agency, and freelance journalist Donal.

The other three are Warta, the boat captain; Surakman, a crew member; and Heriyanto, a guide.

Edy expressed concern over the incident and said the search-and-rescue operation would continue on a large scale.

The initial search by the Banten Search and Rescue Office on Tuesday (September 8) deployed the KN SAR Tetuka and RIB-02 within a 3.2-kilometer radius of Mount Anak Krakatau, but found no sign of the missing people.

On Wednesday (September 9), the SAR team expanded the search area, dividing 68.3 square nautical miles into four Search and Rescue Unit sectors and deploying large-scale assets from multiple agencies.

The assets included Basarnas KN SAR Tetuka; Indonesian Navy vessels KRI Loser, KRI Kerambit, KRI Lepu, KAL Anyer and KAL Pahawang; the National Polices KP Sanjaya; and three rigid inflatable boats from the Banten and Lampung Search and Rescue Offices, supported by local volunteers and fishermen.

So far, the search has produced no results, Edy said, accompanied by Basarnas Preparedness Director Noer Isrodin and Operations Director Yudhi Bramantyo.

Edy also urged the public and vessels operating in the Sunda Strait to follow instructions from the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) and stay outside the three-kilometer danger zone around Anak Krakataus active crater.

According to PVMBG, Mount Anak Krakatau began erupting on Friday (September 4) at 11:07 p.m. local time, with volcanic ash spreading across provincial borders.

Mount Anak Krakatau remains at Level III, or Siaga (Alert), with authorities warning of potential lava flows, incandescent rockfall, hot clouds and volcanic ashfall.

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