Jakarta SAR Office Deploys Ship to Aid Search for Missing Journalist
SAR Vessel Sent to Strengthen Search for Eight Missing People in Sunda Strait
Kabarsaji.com – Search teams have received additional support in the effort to locate eight people who lost contact aboard the speedboat Arupadatu I in the Sunda Strait. The Jakarta SAR Office dispatched the KN SAR 234 Antasena, along with 18 crew and rescue personnel, to reinforce operations in the waters near Pandeglang Regency, Banten Province.
The boat has been missing since Monday, September 7, 2026. Those aboard included five journalists and three members of the vessel’s crew. Rescue authorities are continuing to assess conditions at sea while widening the operational area as the search enters its latest stage.
Antasena Arrives in Cilegon
Head of the Jakarta SAR Office Desiana Kartika Bahari said the KN SAR 234 Antasena left the Basarnas Pantai Mutiara Dock in Jakarta at 3 p.m. WIB on Friday, September 11, 2026. The ship reached the Indah Kiat Dock in Cilegon at 7:36 p.m. WIB and is prepared to assist wherever field commanders determine it is most needed.
The additional resources are expected to help the search proceed more effectively in line with conditions and developments in the field.
Desiana said safety will remain the central priority for everyone assigned to the operation. Personnel on the vessel will monitor developments closely and adjust their work in response to information from the search area.
The Sunda Strait presents a broad maritime search zone between Java and Sumatra, requiring coordination among rescue agencies, security forces, police, and local teams. The deployment of a dedicated SAR ship adds personnel and maritime capability as authorities continue working to identify possible search locations.
Orange Safety Vest Found West of Anyer
A possible clue was located during the third day of the search. The Banten Naval Base found an unmarked orange safety vest in waters west of Anyer while Indonesian National Armed Forces personnel were combing the area aboard the Navy vessel Anyer.
Banten Naval Base Commander Lieutenant Colonel Wawan Subagyo Mardani said the item has not yet been linked to any of the eight missing people. Officials still need to examine and identify the vest before drawing conclusions about where it came from or whether it is connected to the Arupadatu I.
The Anyer KAL team will first carry out identification of the item. For certainty, please wait, considering how far the discovery site is from the location of the incident.
The finding has nevertheless added another point of attention for teams operating on the water. Search operations depend on field observations, weather and sea conditions, reports from vessels in nearby areas, and assessments of where people or floating objects may have moved after contact was lost.
Search Area Extended Toward Lampung Waters
Police are also broadening the search toward waters around Lampung. Lampung Regional Police Public Relations Division Head Commissioner Yuni Iswandari said the operation will continue as authorities pursue all available leads.
The search area will be expanded.
The group was initially known to have lost contact in the Sunda Strait near Banten. Authorities are considering the possibility that sea currents could have carried the missing people toward waters off Lampung, prompting the extension of the search area beyond the original location.
Expanding the operation reflects the uncertainty that can develop in maritime emergencies. The location where a vessel was last in contact does not necessarily remain the most relevant point as time passes, particularly when currents and changing conditions may influence the movement of people, equipment, or debris.
Rescue personnel are therefore balancing the need to examine the original area with the need to cover wider waters. The arrival of the KN SAR 234 Antasena is intended to support that continuing effort while teams coordinate their response across the strait.
The Eight People Still Being Sought
The missing group consists of three people connected to the boat’s operation and five journalists. Warta, 55, was the captain. Surakman, 60, was a crew member, while Heriyanto, 49, was serving as a guide.
The journalists are M. Bagus Khoirunnas, affiliated with Antara; Ari Basuki of Merdeka; Yudhis of iNews; Daus of Anadolu; and Donal, a freelance journalist.
Families, colleagues, and local communities are awaiting further information as the multi-agency search continues. For now, the priority remains locating the eight people and evaluating every indication that may help rescuers determine where to concentrate their efforts.
Authorities have emphasized that operational decisions will continue to follow developments in the field. The search remains active, with the added SAR vessel expected to provide further support as teams cover the Sunda Strait and surrounding waters.
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