BALINEWSID.COM, PANDEGLANG — Five journalists have been reported missing after losing contact while traveling by speedboat from Pagedongan Pier in Carita, Pandeglang Regency, Banten, to cover activity at Mount Anak Krakatau on Monday (Sept. 7, 2026).

The Banten Search and Rescue Office (Basarnas) received information about the incident at 1:55 p.m. local time on Tuesday (Sept. 8). The speedboat reportedly departed at around 2 p.m. and had not returned to the pier as of Tuesday afternoon.

According to an initial report from Basarnas Banten, the group’s last communication was recorded after one of the journalists sent their location coordinates at 2:42 p.m. Communication was then reportedly lost at around 3:04 p.m.

The five journalists identified so far are M. Bagus Khoirunnas of Antara, Ari Basuki of Merdeka, Yudhis of iNews, Daus of Anadolu, and Donal, a freelance journalist. Authorities are still collecting information on the other people who may have been aboard the boat.

The group’s suspected last known location was in the Sunda Strait waters off Pandeglang, at coordinates 6°14’40.52″S, 105°40’49.48″E. The location is approximately 9.98 nautical miles from the position of RIB 02 Banten, with an estimated travel time of around 40 minutes.

The Pandeglang Rescue Team subsequently headed to the area to begin the search. The operation involved six rescue personnel from the Pandeglang Search and Rescue Unit, Pandeglang Water Police (Polairud), and the boat owner.

Basarnas deployed RIB 02 Banten along with search-and-rescue equipment, including medical and communications equipment.

Banten SAR Duty Chief Wahyu said the search for the five journalists was still underway. As of 4:44 p.m. Tuesday, there had been no information regarding their whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Head of Basarnas Lampung Deden Ridwansyah said his office was also on standby in case additional assistance was needed from Lampung.

Deden said the group’s last communication point was still within Banten waters, around the Sangiang area. However, Basarnas Lampung had prepared SAR personnel and equipment in Bakauheni in case the search operation expanded into Lampung waters.

Based on the initial Basarnas Banten report, weather conditions in the area were partly cloudy. Winds were blowing from south to north at around 16.7 knots, while wave heights ranged from 0.4 to 1 meter.

SAR teams were also searching several areas around the waters and land of Sebesi Island and the Mount Anak Krakatau area. Information suggesting that the group may have reached or stayed overnight on Sebesi Island was still being verified.

As of the publication of this report, the five journalists had not been found, and the search operation remained ongoing.