Search for five journalists missing while covering Anak Krakatau eruption to resume tomorrow

A joint rescue operation will resume Wednesday morning for five journalists who lost contact while covering activity at Anak Krakatau in Indonesia's Sunda Strait.

The search reached Krakatau Island and Panjang Island by Tuesday evening without finding them. Authorities said they would expand the search area after studying the route from Carita to Anak Krakatau.

The operation involved the Basarnas rescue vessel KN SAR Tetuka, a rigid inflatable boat and water, medical and communications equipment, working with the Banten police water and air unit. Officials said the larger Basarnas vessel was better suited to searching waters that remained dangerous.

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For tomorrow's plan, we will expand the search area because today we studied the route from Carita to Anak Krakatau.

The team had searched about eight miles from Carita Beach, but limited visibility, high waves and continuing eruption activity forced the vessel to dock. Winds reached about 16.7 knots, waves measured between 0.4 and 1 meter, and volcanic ash darkened the sky around the volcano.

The journalists left Pagedongan Pier in Carita on Monday afternoon. Their last known location was sent to colleagues in Lampung at 2:42 p.m., and contact was lost at 3:04 p.m. The preliminary search list included Antara photojournalist M Bagus Khoirunnas, Ari Basuki of Merdeka, Yudhis of iNews, Daus of Anadolu, freelance journalist Donal and two other people still being identified.

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Visibility was only one mile. There was an eruption, and the waves were also high.