DENPASAR, BALINEWS.ID — More than 50 journalists in Bali held a joint prayer on Sunday (Sept. 13, 2026) for five journalists and three boat crew members who have been missing since losing contact while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait on Monday (Sept. 7).

The solidarity event was held in front of the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar and was initiated by the Pewarta Foto Indonesia (PFI) Denpasar chapter. It was supported by several press organizations and media groups, including the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Denpasar, the Online Journalists Association (IWO) Bali, the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) Bali, the Nusa Tenggara Timur Journalists Association (PENA NTT), and the Association of Indonesian Cyber Media (AMSI) Bali.

PFI Denpasar Chairman Dicky Bisinglasi said the prayer was intended as an expression of solidarity and hope that the search operation would soon provide a breakthrough.

“We all hope that by tomorrow, on the seventh day, they can be found or that there will be better news as a result of the prayers we offer today,” Dicky said.

He expressed hope that the prayer would bring a positive sign in the search for the missing journalists and crew members and provide encouragement to the rescue teams and their families.

Under Law No. 29 of 2014 on Search and Rescue, SAR operations are generally conducted for seven days from the appointment of the Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC). The operation can be extended under certain circumstances, including humanitarian considerations.

Dicky said the five missing journalists were experienced professionals who understood the risks and safety measures involved in covering disasters.

“Unfortunately, disaster has apparently struck them. We do not know exactly what happened. They are not newcomers; they are senior journalists. I personally knew four of the five,” he said.

He also expressed hope that search and rescue teams would soon find signs of the missing journalists and the three crew members.

“We hope that today’s prayers will help the rescue teams in their search and that the operation will produce results,” Dicky said.

The five missing journalists are Muhammad Bagus Khoirunnas, a photographer with Antara’s Banten bureau; Arie Basuki, a photographer with Merdeka.com; Yudistiro Pranoto, a photographer with iNews.id; Firdaus Wajidi, a videographer with Anadolu Agency; and Donal Husni, an independent visual journalist.

Four of the five visual journalists are members of PFI from Jakarta and Tangerang.

They were traveling aboard a boat with three crew members: Warta, the boat’s captain; Surakman, a crew member; and Heritanto, a guide.

The solidarity event also featured poetry readings. Pranita Dewi of Denpasastra recited a poem titled “Kabar dari Laut” (News from the Sea), followed by “Anak Yang Memeluk Matahari” (The Child Who Embraces the Sun) by Moch Satrio Welang.

The gathering reflected the solidarity of Bali’s journalism community with the five journalists and three crew members whose whereabouts remain unknown.

The journalists expressed hope that the search operation would continue to yield results and that all eight missing people would be found.