Search resumes for missing journalists on Anak Krakatau mission

On Wednesday, the search for a missing speedboat in Anak Krakatau resumed after the crew lost contact with their owner shortly after departing from an area west of Jakarta on Monday afternoon, according to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas). The group, consisting of five Indonesian journalists and two boat crew members, was on a mission to document the volcanic eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, which had paralyzed several airports and caused widespread ashfall in cities like Jakarta.

The eruption was reported by the volcano monitoring agency, with the most recent activity occurring at 07:49 a.m. (0049 GMT) on Tuesday.

The search, initially launched on Tuesday afternoon but halted due to high waves and poor visibility, was expanded on Wednesday, involving dozens of rescuers from various sectors including police, military, fishermen, and volunteers. The joint search and rescue team is utilizing all available personnel, facilities, and equipment, including high-speed search and rescue vessels, inflatable boats, and thermal drones, according to Basarnas.

One of the journalists reportedly contacted a colleague around 3:00 pm on Monday, sharing his location, but has since been unaccounted for. The journalists are affiliated with local and international media outlets such as state news agency Antara, Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu, and local website iNews. Anak Krakatau, meaning "child of Krakatau," emerged from the site previously occupied by Krakatau, the volcano that erupted catastrophically in 1883, killing over 36,000 people and triggering a series of devastating tsunamis.