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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Basarnas to Deploy Thermal Drones in Search for Missing Journalists

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Banten search and rescue officials are preparing two thermal drones to search for journalists who lost contact while traveling toward Mount Anak Krakatau.
  • Helicopter and airplane searches remain unfeasible because volcanic ash is spreading, while rough seas and poor visibility halted the previous night search.
  • Multiple vessels, agencies and local fishermen are being coordinated, but reports that the boat may have reached Sebesi Island remain unconfirmed.

Indonesia’s Banten Search and Rescue Office is preparing two thermal drones to search for a group of journalists who lost contact after leaving Pegedongan Pier in Carita for Mount Anak Krakatau.

We are ready to resume the search at 07:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

· Rizky DwiantoThe Banten SAR operations coordinator described when the search was expected to resume.

The drones are stationed aboard the KN SAR Tetuka and will provide an aerial search alternative because helicopters and airplanes cannot yet operate amid the spread of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau. Search and Rescue Operations Coordinator Rizky Dwianto said the operation would resume at 7 a.m. Western Indonesian Time once conditions allowed.

The KN SAR Tetuka had searched until about 10 p.m. before docking at Ciwandan Port in Cilegon. Rizky said rough seas and limited visibility made a night search unsafe and ineffective. The operation involves two speedboats, the RIB 02 Banten, the KN SAR Tetuka and a Lampung search-and-rescue inflatable boat.

We have equipped the KN SAR Tetuka with drones. We plan to fly them near Mount Anak Krakatau to conduct an aerial search using thermal drone technology.

· Rizky DwiantoHe explained how the thermal drones would support the search.

Authorities are also checking whether the boat reached a small island or an unmonitored pier. Information that the journalists might be on Sebesi Island remains under verification and has not been confirmed. Local fishermen will join the search as agencies coordinate their response.

Sea conditions were quite rough, and visibility was limited. So, we docked for the sake of effectiveness and safety.

· Rizky DwiantoHe explained why the vessel stopped searching overnight.

The assets on standby include the KN SAR Tetuka, RIB 02 Banten, RIB Lampung, the KAL Anyer naval vessel and an ambulance from FBN Banten. The joint force includes 16 agencies and community groups, according to the Banten operation command post.

We are coordinating with relevant parties regarding the possibility that the boat docked at small islands or piers that are not under surveillance.

· Rizky DwiantoHe described efforts to check possible landing points.
About this summary

Originally published by Tempo. Summarized and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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