Banten, en.SERU.co.id – DNA examination of a male body found on Enggano Island in Bengkulu has finally revealed the victim’s identity. The remains have been confirmed as those of Surakhman, a crew member of the Arupadatu 1 vessel who went missing along with a group of journalists while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. Certainty was obtained after the body’s DNA matched that of Surakhman’s biological son.
Banten Regional Police Chief Inspector General Hengki said the identification was carried out by matching data. This involved antemortem data from the families of the eight missing people with postmortem data from the body recovered on Enggano Island.
“The examination was carried out through a number of primary data, including fingerprints, teeth, and DNA. The body of MR X has been identified as Surakhman or the ship’s crew member, the biological father of Mr. Yayat,” said Hengki, as quoted from detikcom on Wednesday, 23 September 2026.
Meanwhile, forensic doctor at Bhayangkara Hospital Banten, Donald Rinaldi Kusumaningrat, confirmed that the DNA examination of the body has been completed.
“The DNA matching was carried out using a sample from Surakhman’s biological child. The results show a genetic match between the body found on Enggano and the victim’s family,” he said.
Found on Enggano Island
Surakhman’s body was first discovered by residents in the coastal area of Enggano Island on Saturday, 12 September 2026. At the time of discovery, the identity was still unknown, so local residents temporarily buried the remains.
Police received information about the discovery and linked it to the report of the missing Arupadatu 1 group. Shortly afterward, the Bengkulu Regional Police conducted the identification process.
The grave was later reopened. The body was taken for forensic examination and matching against data from the eight people previously reported missing.
The recovered body had several characteristics, including black shorts, a height of approximately 163 centimeters, and an estimated age of around 50 years. Surakhman’s remains are scheduled to be transported from Bengkulu to Banten via Soekarno-Hatta Airport.
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Missing While Covering Anak Krakatau Eruption
Surakhman was one of three crew members of KM Arupadatu 1 that carried five journalists. The group was heading to the Mount Anak Krakatau area to cover the volcanic activity on 7 September 2026.
A total of eight people were in the group. They were later reported missing in the waters of the Sunda Strait. The eight individuals were:
- M. Bagus Khoirunnas — ANTARA
- Ari Basuki — Merdekacom
- Yudistiro Pranoto — iNews
- Firman Daus — Anadolu Agency
- Donal Husni — freelance journalist
- Warta — ship captain
- Surakhman/Sukarman — ship crew member
- Heriyanto — guide
SAR Operation Halted
Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office (Kakansar), Al Amrad, said the previous search operation had lasted for seven days and was then extended by three more days. During the search period, the team found one body on 12 September, five days after the group was reported missing.
“According to the rules, our search was carried out for seven days. During those seven days we had already extended it by three days. Until the 14th we evaluated and extended it by another three days,” said Al Amrad.
However, until the extension period ended, the SAR team did not find any further signs of the other victims. The search then continued through the dissemination of information using e-broadcast and mapping.
The discovery and identification of Surakhman mark the first clear breakthrough in the case of the missing KM Arupadatu 1 and the group of journalists. Yet the condition of the other seven members of the group remains unknown. (aan/mzm)
