Indonesia Searches for Missing Boat Carrying Journalists Near Anak Krakatau
Indonesian rescuers are searching for eight people, including journalists, missing near Anak Krakatau volcano after their boat lost contact.
Indonesian search and rescue teams are scouring the waters around Anak Krakatau volcano for a missing speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists. The group was traveling to the volcanic island to cover its ongoing eruption when they lost contact.
The boat departed from Carita in Banten province on Monday. The last communication from the vessel was received at 6:13 p.m., indicating the group had reached waters near Anak Krakatau, approximately 18.5 kilometers from shore. Al Amrad, chief of Banten's Search and Rescue Agency, confirmed that the missing individuals include five photojournalists, two crew members, and a route guide.
The journalists were affiliated with Indonesia's state news agency Antara, Turkey's Anadolu Agency, Indonesia's Merdeka and iNews, along with one freelance photographer.
Search efforts are concentrated on the coast of Lampung Province, based on analysis of wind and ocean currents moving toward the southwest. "As of now, there are still no results. We are hoping for the best," Amrad said, adding that coordination with relevant agencies in the area is underway.
Anak Krakatau has been erupting intermittently since Sunday, ejecting lava, ash, and incandescent material. The initial eruption forced airport closures that disrupted nearly 2,961 flights and affected about 341,000 passengers.
The volcano has been at Indonesia's second-highest alert level since July, with authorities advising people to stay at least 3 kilometers from the active crater. The 2018 eruption of Anak Krakatau triggered a tsunami that killed at least 430 people in Sumatra and Java.