Search Underway for Seven People Missing Near Anak Krakatau
Kabarsaji.com – Search and rescue personnel in Banten are looking for seven people who lost contact while traveling by speedboat in the Sunda Strait, including five journalists assigned to cover activity at Mount Anak Krakatau.
The vessel had left Pagedongan Pier in Carita, Pandeglang Regency, on Monday afternoon, September 7, 2026. It was expected to return after the group completed coverage near the volcanic island, but neither the boat nor those aboard had been located by Tuesday, September 8.
The missing journalists have been identified as M. Bagus Khoirunnas from Antara, Ari Basuki from Merdeka, Yudhis from iNews, Daus from Anadolu Agency, and freelance journalist Donal.
Two additional passengers were also on the boat when communication was lost. Their identities and circumstances were still being clarified as the operation continued.
Last Contact Recorded Monday Afternoon
Basarnas received information indicating that the speedboat may have been involved in an accident during the journey. The vessel, carrying a total of seven people, belonged to the head of Carita village.
It departed from Pagedongan Pier at roughly 2 p.m. on Monday. The boat’s owner had not received updates from the crew after it left the coast, raising concern when it failed to return.
Albert Wenno, who leads the central public relations office at Basarnas, said the available information pointed to an incident on Monday while the group was covering Anak Krakatau’s activity.
“They were covering activity at Mount Anak Krakatau,” Albert said on Tuesday, September 8.
A journalist from Lampung identified as Abay was the final person known to have communicated with the group. Contact was made at 2:42 p.m. local time on Monday, when location information was shared. The signal or communication link then stopped at 3:04 p.m.
“As of the time this report was filed, the victims had not been found,” Albert said.
Operation Begins From Carita
The Banten branch of Basarnas launched its search from Pagedongan Pier, the point where the speedboat began its voyage. Rescue efforts are focused on the Sunda Strait area between the Banten coast and the Anak Krakatau region.
The strait is a heavily used maritime passage and also an area that can draw journalists, researchers, tourists, and officials whenever Anak Krakatau shows heightened volcanic activity. Reaching the island area requires sea travel, making reliable communication and vessel coordination especially important for crews working offshore.
The disappearance has brought attention to the risks faced by media workers covering natural events from the field. Reporting on volcanic activity often requires journalists to travel quickly to remote locations, work near changing environmental conditions, and depend on local maritime transport to reach observation points.
In this case, the journalists had traveled from Carita to document developments involving Anak Krakatau, the active volcanic island located in the Sunda Strait. Search teams were still collecting information about the vessel’s route, the people on board, and the events that may have occurred after the last contact.
Anak Krakatau Remains Closely Watched
Anak Krakatau, whose name means “Child of Krakatau,” is part of the Krakatau volcanic complex. Its activity is monitored because eruptions and changes in volcanic conditions can affect nearby waters, communities, shipping routes, and travel plans around the Sunda Strait.
Recent attention has centered on changes in the volcano’s eruptive behavior, including a return to a Strombolian phase. Strombolian eruptions are generally characterized by intermittent explosive bursts that can eject glowing volcanic material. Conditions around an active volcano may shift rapidly, which is why official monitoring and safety guidance are significant for anyone traveling in the surrounding area.
For the families, colleagues, and news organizations connected to the missing journalists, the immediate priority remains locating the seven people and establishing what happened to the speedboat. The search effort is continuing while Basarnas works to confirm further details.
Authorities have urged no conclusion about the incident until the operation produces clearer information. At the time of the latest update, the boat had not returned and communication with those aboard had not been restored.
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