Search Underway for 5 Journalists Missing Near Anak Krakatau Volcano
Indonesian search teams are scouring the Sunda Strait for a missing boat carrying five journalists bound for the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano.
PANDEGLANG, Indonesia — Indonesian authorities have launched a massive search-and-rescue operation in the Sunda Strait after a vessel carrying five journalists and three crew members went missing while en route to document the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano.
The boat departed from Carita pier in Pandeglang, Banten, on Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. local time (WIB). Onboard were reporters from various media outlets, including the state news agency Antara, Merdeka.com, iNews, Anadolu Agency, and a freelance journalist. Their mission to capture footage of the volcano’s increased volcanic activity took a perilous turn when communication was lost shortly after departure.
The Timeline of Disappearance
The vessel experienced its first signal disruption at 2:42 p.m. WIB, while navigating the waters between Carita and the volcanic island. Despite the initial loss of contact, there was a brief moment of hope at 6:13 p.m. WIB, when a passenger sent a message confirming the boat had reached the vicinity of Anak Krakatau. That message remains the last verified contact from the group.
The Banten Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas Banten) confirmed that the manifest included a total of eight individuals: the five journalists, a boat captain, a crew member, and a guide. The alarm was raised on Tuesday, Sept. 8, following an official report filed by a representative from Antara.
Expanding Search Operations
Basarnas Pandeglang mobilized immediately, deploying a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) at 2:15 p.m. on Tuesday to begin initial sweeps. By 5:25 p.m., the larger rescue vessel, the KN SAR Tetuka, was dispatched to the area to serve as a mobile command post for the operation. Efforts on the first day centered on Pulau Rakata and Pulau Panjang, islands located approximately 3.2 kilometers from the volcano, but yielded no sightings of the missing crew.
"The KN SAR Tetuka remains underway, heading toward the last known position to establish a base for our movement," stated Al Amrad, the Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office. The operation is currently a collaborative effort involving personnel from the Banten Regional Police’s Water and Air Directorate (Polairud) and local fishermen familiar with the treacherous currents of the Sunda Strait.
Volcanic Risks and Strategy
Deputi of Operations for Basarnas, Edy Prakoso, announced on Tuesday evening that search efforts would significantly expand on Wednesday morning, Sept. 9. The new strategy involves a wider search grid, incorporating data gathered from the initial mapping of the route from Carita to the volcano.
"We are planning to expand the search area tomorrow, as today we focused on studying the specific route taken from Carita to the volcanic site," Prakoso noted. As the search enters its next phase, the complexity of the mission is heightened by the volatile marine conditions caused by Anak Krakatau’s ongoing eruptions, which continue to threaten both rescue vessels and personnel operating in the immediate vicinity of the crater.
