September 10, 2026 | 03:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto instructed Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Chief of Staff Admiral Muhammad Ali on Monday night, September 7, to immediately launch a search for five journalists and three boat crew members who had lost contact while covering Mount Anak Krakatau’s volcanic activity.
The group lost contact in the Sunda Strait waters off Pandeglang, Banten, Indonesia.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya told Antara on Thursday that the Indonesian Navy deployed vessels for the search the same day.
“Since the group of five journalists and three boat crew members was reported to have lost contact, President Prabowo immediately instructed the Navy chief of staff on Monday night to launch a search. The Navy deployed its vessels that same day,” Teddy said.
According to a report from the Navy chief of staff, a total of 11 vessels joined the search operation.
The vessels include the KRI Leuser-924, KRI Kerambit-627, KRI Lepu-861, KAL Anyer 1-3-64, KAL Pohawang 1-3-30, RBB Peucang of the Banten Naval Base, RHIB SAR 02 Banten, RHIB SAR 02 Lampung, KN SAR Tetuka-247, KN SAR Basudewa-224, and KP Sanjaya-7017.
Teddy also expressed hopes for the safety of all eight people and said he hoped they would be found soon.
“Our prayers are with everyone in the group. Hopefully, they will be found safe soon,” he said.
Five journalists and three boat crew members were reported missing after losing contact in the Sunda Strait on Monday, September 7.
The group comprises M. Bagus Khoirunnas of ANTARA, Ari Basuki of Merdeka.com, Yudhistiro of iNews, Firdaus of Anadolu, freelance journalist Donal, as well as Warta, the boat captain; Surakman, a crew member; and Heriyanto, a guide.
The group departed from Pagedongan Pier in Carita, Pandeglang, at around 2 PM on Monday. One of the journalists sent their last known location at around 2:42 PM, before communication was lost at approximately 3:04 PM.
Their whereabouts have remained unknown since then. Search and rescue teams have been conducting operations based on their last known communication point and location.
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