Deputy Speaker of the DPR RI, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.

progresifjaya.co.id, JAKARTA – Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad has urged the government to make every possible effort to locate five journalists and their boat crew who lost contact while covering the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait.

He also stated, that he has coordinated with relevant ministries to ensure the safety of the journalists.

“We express our concern regarding our fellow journalists whose whereabouts remain unknown at this time,” Sufmi Dasco told reporters at the DPR/MPR complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

“We have urged the relevant agencies and are monitoring the maximum efforts being undertaken so that the status of these individuals can be clarified as soon as possible,” he added.

The five journalists reported missing are Ari Basuki Merdeka.com, M. Bagus Khoerunnas Antara, Yudhis iNews, Daus Anadolu, and a freelance journalist named Donald.

In addition to the five journalists, the boat captain—Warta (55)—crew member Surakman (60), and the journalists’ guide, Heriyanto (49), have also lost contact.

The group of journalists had been in the vicinity of Mount Anak Krakatau to cover the volcano’s activity. Communication with the group was lost on the afternoon of Monday, September 7, 2026.

As of the afternoon of Wednesday, September 9, 2026, a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team is still searching for all the missing individuals. The search operation has been divided into four Search and Rescue Units (SRUs) to expand the coverage area.

Various assets and resources have also been deployed for this operation. These include the KN SAR Tetuka 247, KAL Anyer, KP Sanjaya, RIB 02 Banten, RIB 02 Lampung, and RIB 03 Lampung, as well as a rescue vehicle, a personnel truck, a thermal drone, and various water SAR, medical, communication, and other support equipment. (Bembo)