Recently, in Indonesia, a speedboat carrying 8 people, including 5 journalists from various media outlets, went missing while en route to report on the erupting Mount Anak Krakatau volcano. Indonesian rescue teams are currently exerting all efforts to search for the missing boat and individuals.
According to reports from various media sources, the team departed from the Pandeglang port in Banten Province, west of Jakarta, at around 2 p.m. local time on Monday, September 7th. Their initial plan was to travel to the sea near the volcano for coverage. Unfortunately, they encountered an accident near the Sunda Strait and lost contact with the boat owner.
The small boat carried a total of 8 individuals, including 5 journalists, 2 crew members, and 1 guide. These journalists work for both local and international media organizations, such as Indonesia’s Antara news agency, Turkey’s Anadolu Agency, and the local news website iNews.
Indonesia’s national search and rescue agency, local police, and the involved speedboat company initiated a joint search and rescue operation on Tuesday, September 8th.
Al Amrad, the head of the local search and rescue agency, mentioned that one of the missing journalists had contacted their family at 6:13 p.m. on Monday, informing them that they had reached the waters near Mount Anak Krakatau, but subsequently lost communication.
Due to the rough seas and extremely low visibility in the area, search efforts were forced to pause on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, September 9th, the joint search and rescue team resumed the operation and expanded the search area.
The search and rescue agency stated in a press release that dozens of rescue personnel, including police, military, fishermen, and volunteers, are participating in the operation. They have also deployed high-speed rescue boats, inflatable dinghies, thermal imaging drones, and other equipment to thoroughly search for the missing individuals and boat.
This incident of disappearance coincides with the intense volcanic activities of Mount Anak Krakatau. Since last Friday, the volcano has been erupting, emitting a significant amount of volcanic ash. This has led to the closure of multiple airports, including Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, causing numerous flights to be canceled or delayed. The volcanic ash has even spread to Jakarta and some southern parts of Sumatra Island. Local authorities have warned residents to avoid activities within a 3-kilometer radius of the volcano.