September 10, 2026 | 12:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Lampung Police have expanded the search for five journalists and three boat crew members who were reported missing after losing contact while traveling from Carita Beach in Pandeglang, Banten, toward Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait.
Search Expanded to Lampung Waters
"The search area will be expanded to include several waters under the jurisdiction of the Lampung Police," Lampung Police spokesperson Senior Commissioner Yuni Iswandari said on Thursday, September 10.
She said the move was intended to anticipate the possibility that the missing group had been carried by currents into Lampung waters.
"We are anticipating the possibility that they may have been carried toward Lampung waters. Hopefully, these efforts will provide a breakthrough and information on the whereabouts of our colleagues," she said.
The Lampung Police said they would continue supporting the search alongside other police units and joint search and rescue teams.
"We don't know. There could be information or news that they have been found at sea. Hopefully, our friends out there will be kept safe and found soon," Iswandari said.
Two Search Teams Deployed
Following the incident in Banten waters, the Lampung Police and joint SAR teams joined the search by combing waters under the jurisdiction of the Lampung Police.
"Previously, Water Police personnel, together with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), personnel from the National Police headquarters, and the Lampung Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob), had been deployed to patrol waters around Sebesi Island and other areas of Lampung waters," she said.
On Wednesday, September 9, two teams were deployed. The first consisted of Water Police personnel, National Police headquarters personnel and Basarnas members. The second comprised six Water Police officers and five Brimob personnel.
"Both teams searched waters in the Lampung area, but no breakthrough has yet been made regarding their whereabouts," Iswandari said.
Boat and Helicopter Searches Planned
The Lampung Police plan to resume the search by boat. An aerial search using a helicopter is also being prepared if weather conditions permit.
"If the helicopter can fly and the cloud cover and weather conditions allow it, we will conduct an aerial patrol," she said.
Iswandari expressed concern over the incident and said authorities hoped the missing journalists and crew members would be found safe.
According to preliminary information, the group departed from Pagedongan Pier in Carita, Pandeglang, at around 2 p.m. local time on Monday, September 7. One of the journalists sent their last known location at around 2:42 p.m., but communication with the group was lost at around 3:04 p.m.
Their whereabouts have remained unknown since then. SAR teams have based their search on the group's last known communication and location.
The five journalists have been identified as M. Bagus Khoirunnas of ANTARA, Ari Basuki of Merdeka, Yudhis of iNews, Daus of Anadolu and Donal, a freelance journalist. Three boat crew members were also aboard the speedboat.
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