Joint SAR teams searching for five missing journalists and three boat crew members near Gunung Anak Krakatau have deployed multiple vessels across a wide search grid, according to officials on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. The group went missing after their speedboat departed from Carita, Pandeglang, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, to cover the volcanic activity.
The search operation, entering its second day on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, involves a coordinated effort across the Sunda Strait. According to Al Amrad, head of the Banten National Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas), the total search area spans approximately 273 nautical miles, or about 505 kilometers. Five distinct assets are involved in the sweep: KN SAR Tetuka from Basarnas, KAL Anyer from Lanal Banten, RIB 01 from the Lampung SAR Office, RIB 02 Banten, and KP Sanjaya from the Water Police of the National Police Headquarters (Polairud).
Additional support was drawn from Lampung because SAR mapping indicated the missing vessel might have drifted into neighboring waters. According to Al Amrad, units such as RIB 02 Banten have been tasked with inspecting smaller islands like Greater Krakatau and Pulau Panjang to check for emergency landfalls. Meanwhile, Basarnas Banten operations chief Rizky Dwianto confirmed that first-day sweeps covered the waters around Krakatau and Pulau Panjang, though no trace of the boat or its passengers was found.
Family Appeals for Checks on Restricted Island Zones
Desi Purnama, wife of ANTARA journalist Bagus Khoirunnas, spoke with Banten Governor Andra Soni at the National SAR Post at Marina Carita Beach on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, requesting that authorities check Pulau Sertung. Desi reported that one of the boat’s guides, Heriyanto, sent a messaging app photo on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, at approximately 18:13 WIB showing Gunung Anak Krakatau with rising white smoke, an image believed to have been captured near Pulau Sertung.
Desi stated that her husband had discussed the possibility of landing on the island prior to the trip. However, Pulau Sertung lies within a three-kilometer radius of the crater, an exclusion zone mandated by the Level III (Alert) status of Gunung Anak Krakatau. When Governor Andra Soni relayed this information to Al Amrad, the Basarnas Banten chief explained that rescue boats had reached the outer edges of Pulau Rakata on Tuesday but had to turn back due to darkness, strong winds, and thick smoke.
Did You Know? The missing group departed from Dermaga Pagedongan in Carita, Pandeglang, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, at approximately 14:00 WIB aboard an Arupadhatu 1 speedboat before losing contact and prompting a multi-agency search response.
What May Happen Next in the Search Operation
Search authorities are expected to evaluate the day’s sweep data around 17:00 local time to determine the tactical plan for Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, according to statements from the Banten SAR office.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the missing journalists and crew members?
According to official reports, the missing journalists are M Bagus Khoirunnas (ANTARA), Ari Basuki (Merdeka.com), Yudistiro Pranoto (iNews), Firman Daus (Anadolu Agency), and Donal Husni (freelance). The three boat crew members are Warta (captain), Sukarman (crew), and Heriyanto (guide).
When did the group lose contact?
The group lost contact after departing from Carita, Pandeglang, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, with Basarnas receiving the missing person report on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026.
What resources are deployed for the rescue operation?
The joint search involves five primary assets: KN SAR Tetuka, KAL Anyer, RIB 01 Lampung, RIB 02 Banten, and KP Sanjaya, covering an operational area of roughly 273 nautical miles.