On the fifth day of operations, a joint search and rescue team looking for five journalists and three ship crew members missing in the Sunda Strait discovered a life jacket, a helmet, and plastic jerrycans, according to officials on Saturday, September 12, 2026. The search, which covers multiple marine and air sectors near Mount Anak Krakatau and Ujung Kulon, continues to face severe weather challenges as rescue personnel work to locate the missing parties.
Search Operations and Recovered Items in Sector 5
According to the Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, speaking at the joint SAR post in Carita District, Pandeglang Regency, the recovery of items took place in sector 5. Rescue vessel KN SAR Tetuka located a blue oil jerrycan at approximately 10:05 local time, followed by a red helmet at 12:00 local time. Personnel subsequently retrieved an orange life jacket at 17:10 and a red life jacket at 18:09. Sector 5 encompasses an area of 380 nautical square miles, stretching across the waters south of Mount Anak Krakatau and Ujung Kulon. Al Amrad stated that these items have been handed over to the authorities for further identification.
Did You Know? The missing group originally departed from Pagedongan Pier in Carita, Pandeglang Regency, heading toward the Mount Anak Krakatau area on Monday, September 7, 2026, around 14:00 before losing contact.
Deployment Scale and Weather Obstacles
The wider search operation spans across extensive maritime and aerial zones. Al Amrad detailed that Saturday’s marine search divided the area into six distinct sectors—designated as T, U, Z, W, X, and Y—covering a total expanse of approximately 2,537 nautical square miles. Meanwhile, aerial sweeps targeted sector H, covering roughly 2,063 nautical square miles. Multiple entities participated in the sweep, including the Navy, the Directorate of Water Police (Dirpolair), and regional Basarnas offices from Banten, Jakarta, Lampung, and Bengkulu.
Despite the broad deployment, Al Amrad confirmed that the overall results for the victims remain nil. Operations faced major disruptions in the field due to extremely thick fog that severely limited visibility for the joint personnel. Because of these deteriorating weather conditions, teams could experience temporary halts in active sweeps while awaiting clearer visibility for subsequent operational days.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the journalists and crew members go missing?
The five journalists and three ship crew members aboard the Arupadhatu 1 vessel went missing while covering volcanic activity at Mount Anak Krakatau, having departed on September 7, 2026, and losing contact by Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
What items were found during the fifth day of the search?
On Saturday, September 12, 2026, the joint SAR team recovered a blue oil jerrycan, a red helmet, an orange life jacket, and a red life jacket in sector 5.
What are the main obstacles faced by the rescue teams?
According to Banten Search and Rescue Office head Al Amrad, extremely thick fog has severely hindered visibility across the search sectors in the Sunda Strait.
What protocols should local vessels follow when navigating waters affected by sudden volcanic activity and heavy fog?
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