Indonesia expands massive SAR effort to locate missing journalists in Sunda Strait
Indonesia's joint search and rescue team has divided a 6,010-square-nautical-mile zone into six sectors, deploying 15 vessels, a helicopter and 551 personnel to find eight missing people, including five journalists.
Indonesia’s joint search-and-rescue operation for the Arupadhatu 1 speedboat, which lost contact on September 7 while heading toward the Anak Krakatau area, has been expanded to a 6,010-square-nautical-mile zone. The area is divided into six sectors—five maritime sectors labeled V through Z and an aerial sector—each assigned specific vessels, including KRI Kerambit, KRI Teluk Gilimanuk, KAL Anyer and a fleet of eight ships in sector X. One helicopter is on standby at the Air Traffic Services facility, awaiting suitable weather for aerial sweeps.
The operation now involves 15 vessels and 551 personnel. Eight individuals, among them journalists M. Bagus Khoirunnas, Ari Basuki, Yudhistiro Pranoto, Firman Daus and freelance Donal Husni, as well as the captain and two crew members, remain missing.
Why it matters
The large-scale search underscores the dangers faced by journalists at sea and tests Indonesia's SAR coordination.
How this story developed
- Sep 8 Respiratory Cases Surge in Bandarlampung Amid Anak Krakatau Eruption
- Sep 9 Search was restarted with four SAR units and thermal drones slated for flight.
- Sep 10 Search was broadened on Sept 9 into four SAR sectors after the initial sweep found no results.
- Sep 12 The ferry Virgo Transport 8, carrying 243 passengers, lost contact while sailing from Surabaya to Banjarmasin, prompting a search operation.
- Sep 13 Rescue teams have been dispatched to the last reported position.
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