SAR expands search for seven missing near Anak Krakatau

Pangkalpinang, Indonesia - On Wednesday, a search operation commenced in pursuit of eight individuals, consisting of five journalists, two crew members, and a guide who vanished while approaching Indonesia's active Mount Anak Krakatau to document the volcanic activity. The group departed from Pagedongan Pier in Carita, Banten province, on Monday afternoon, heading towards the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.

Indonesian authorities and global news agencies have reported the missing individuals as Muhammad Bagus Khoirunnas of the state news agency Antara, Arie Basuki of Merdeka.com, Yudhistira of iNews, Daus of Turkey's Anadolu Agency, and freelance photographer Donal Husni. The final communication from the boat was received on Monday at 18:13, stating their arrival in the vicinity of Anak Krakatau.

Satellite images captured the group's last known position approximately 18.5 kilometers from the shore. On Tuesday, Indonesian rescuers initiated a search after the group was reported missing, but due to rough seas and low visibility, the search was halted and resumed again on Wednesday, expanding the search area. Dozens of rescuers, including police, military personnel, fishermen, and volunteers, have participated in the operation, utilizing high-speed search-and-rescue vessels, inflatable boats, and thermal drones.

As of Wednesday, none of the eight individuals have been found, and no confirmed communication has been received from the missing group. Antara reported on Tuesday evening that no signals or communication were received from the journalists. Mount Anak Krakatau, also known as "Child of Krakatau," has been erupting since late last week, disrupting air travel across Indonesia.

The volcano's initial eruption concluded on Sunday, but subsequent explosions have released lava, ash, and incandescent volcanic material from its crater. The volcano erupted thrice on Tuesday, according to Indonesia's volcano monitoring agency. Volcanic ash has affected several airports, including Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, though airports previously closed due to ash have since reopened as conditions improved.

The volcanic ash disruption affected over 340,000 travelers, with further eruptions potentially disrupting flights depending on the height of the ash plume and wind direction. Anak Krakatau, meaning "Child of Krakatau," emerged from the former Krakatau volcano, which was destroyed by a catastrophic eruption in 1883 that triggered tsunamis killing more than 36,000 people.

A 2018 eruption of Anak Krakatau also caused a tsunami resulting in over 400 fatalities. Indonesian authorities have established a 3-kilometer exclusion zone around Anak Krakatau due to the ongoing volcanic activity. Rescue teams have broadened the search area as they persist in their efforts to locate the missing group.