Antara News·Indonesia·Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 11:58 PM

Police intensify search for missing journalists in Sunda Strait

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Nadia Putri Rahmani, Yashinta Difa

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian National Police has mobilized specialized units alongside the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) to intensify search operations in the Sunda Strait after a boat carrying a team of journalists lost contact while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau.

The missing group includes ANTARA photojournalist M. Bagus Khoirunnas, Arie Basuki (Merdeka), Yudhistira (iNews), Daus (Anadolu Agency), freelance photographer Donal Husni and two additional individuals whose identities are currently being verified by authorities.

National Police Public Relations Division Head Inspector General Johnny Eddizon Isir said in Jakarta on Tuesday (September 8) that the police force was committed to providing full operational support to locate all the missing crew.

"The National Police will continue to collaborate and provide maximum support in this search operation. We hope all media crew members can be found safe and sound soon," Johnny said.

According to police reports, the team departed from Pagedongan Pier in Carita on Monday (September 7) at approximately 14:00 Western Indonesia Time (WIB) aboard a speedboat bound for Mount Anak Krakatau.

The vessel's last recorded communication occurred at 14:42 WIB, before all signals were lost at 15:04 WIB.

Following the disappearance, the Banten Regional Police Water Police Directorate (Ditpolair) collaborated with Basarnas and joint search teams to conduct sweeps around the speedboat's last known location.

Head of the Patrol Sub-directorate of the Banten Regional Police Water Police Adjunct Senior Commissioner (AKBP) Lis Handayana noted that joint search units operated until 22:31 WIB on Tuesday before temporarily suspending operations for the night.

"For the time being, the search has been suspended, and we will resume it tomorrow," Lis said, confirming that conditions remained under control during the initial search phase.

Search and rescue operations are scheduled to resume on Wednesday morning (September 9).

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