Pandeglang, en.SERU.co.id – Combined SAR teams have deployed 13 ships to sweep several sectors around Mount Anak Krakatau. Life jackets and flotation devices found have been confirmed not to belong to the boat carrying the eight missing people. Nevertheless, the search for five journalists and three boat crew members missing in the Sunda Strait waters continues into the fourth day on Friday (11/9/2026).
Head of the Banten Search and Rescue Office, Al Amrad, said more than 300 personnel are involved in the operation, including those stationed at the command post.
“We are conducting searches in all sectors based on BMKG data that we have received,” Amrad said, quoted from detikcom on Friday (11/9/2026).
Life Jackets Confirmed Not Belonging to Journalists’ Boat
Banten Police Chief Inspector General Hengky said examination of the orange life jackets and white flotation devices found on the third day has been completed.
“So the certainty is that the findings from the third day of the search do not belong to or are not the safety equipment owned by the Aru Padatu 1 boat,” Hengky said.
This certainty was obtained after the team examined Sandi, the boat owner. The team also compared the field findings with video recordings showing the safety equipment used by the group.
“Based on video analysis, the equipment found differs from the life jackets used by the journalists. So it has not yet become a clue to the whereabouts of the eight missing people,” he said.
Helicopter Still Waiting for Weather Conditions
In addition to deploying ships, the SAR team is also considering an aerial search using a helicopter. However, weather conditions remain a factor being taken into account.
Amrad said an aerial search had previously been carried out as far as the Carita coastal area. The helicopter flew at an altitude of about 15,000 to 25,000 feet but had not yet found any signs of the victims.
For the fourth day of searching, the team is still monitoring weather developments before resuming aerial sweeps. Meanwhile, sea searches continue with sector divisions already determined by Basarnas.
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Second Day Search for Eight Missing in Sunda Strait Yields No Results
High Waves When the Boat Went Missing
Maritime BMKG Lampung forecaster Putu Ray said the southern part of the Sunda Strait at that time experienced high waves. Wave heights were estimated to reach 2.5–4 meters. BMKG had issued an early warning regarding these conditions one day before the incident.
Until the fourth day, the whereabouts of the five journalists and three boat crew members remain unknown. The combined SAR team continues to carry out sea sweeps, aerial monitoring and evaluation of every finding to narrow the search area. (aan/mzm)
Indonesian Version:
SAR Kerahkan 13 Kapal Cari Delapan Orang Hilang di Selat Sunda, Life Jacket Bukan Milik Korban
