Search Underway for 8 Missing Near Erupting Anak Krakatau, Including 5 Journalists
Indonesian rescuers are searching for a boat with 8 aboard, including 5 journalists, missing near the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano.
Rescue teams in Indonesia are scouring the waters around the Anak Krakatau volcano for a speedboat that went missing on Monday with eight people on board, including five photojournalists.
The vessel departed from the coastal town of Carita in Banten province and was headed for the volcanic island, which sits in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. The boat was carrying the journalists, two crew members, and a route guide.
According to Al Amrad, the head of Banten province's Search and Rescue Office, the last contact from the group was a message received by a journalist's relative at 6:13 p.m. on Monday. The message indicated the boat had reached the waters around Anak Krakatau. No communication has been received since.
The missing journalists are reported to have worked for Indonesia's state news agency Antara, Turkey's Anadolu Agency, and several other local and foreign outlets. Their last known position was approximately 18.5 kilometers from the shore.
Rescue operations have been underway since Tuesday, but officials state they have been unable to establish contact with the group or determine their exact location.
The disappearance comes as Anak Krakatau has been experiencing intermittent eruptions, ejecting lava, ash, and incandescent material. The recent volcanic activity has had significant knock-on effects, leading to the closure of airports on Sunday and Monday. This disruption impacted nearly 2,961 flights, including 622 international services, and affected around 341,000 passengers. In response, authorities have permitted schools in affected areas to shift to online learning to minimize students' exposure to volcanic ash.
Anak Krakatau, which translates to "child of Krakatau," emerged from the remains of the volcano destroyed in the massive 1883 eruption. The volcano has been on Indonesia's second-highest alert level since July, with authorities advising people to stay at least 3 kilometers away from the active crater. A previous eruption in 2018 triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people.
Indonesia, situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is home to over 120 active volcanoes and is prone to frequent seismic and volcanic activity.