Indonesia Launches Massive Search for Missing Photojournalists After Anak Krakatau Eruption

Jakarta – The sea around the tiny volcanic island of Anak Krakatau turned into a scene of frantic searching on Wednesday, as Indonesian rescue teams, navy ships, and police vessels fanned out across the Sunda Strait. Their mission? To locate eight people who went silent after their speedboat left the coastal town of Carita on Monday evening.

The missing group comprised five Indonesian photojournalists—three working for the state news agency Antara, one for Merdeka, and another for iNews—plus a freelance photographer, two crew members and a local guide. Their goal was to document the latest eruption of Anak Krakatau, a volcano that has been churning nonstop since a 25‑hour blast over the weekend.

According to Al Amrad, chief of the Banten province Search and Rescue Office, the last transmission from the boat arrived at 6:13 p.m. on Monday. A relative of one of the journalists relayed the message, saying the vessel had reached the waters surrounding the volcano. After that, radio silence.

Authorities estimate the boat’s final known position was roughly 18.5 kilometres (11.5 miles) from the shore. The search zone has since been widened to include the waters between Carita, the islands of Rakata and Panjang, and out toward Sebesi and Legundi. Five vessels, two of them navy ships, are now patrolling the area, supported by divers and aerial surveillance.

“We are still unable to establish contact or pinpoint their whereabouts,” Amrad said, his voice heavy with concern. Families gathered at the Carita port office, clutching phones and hopeful for any word, while rescue crews scoured the choppy sea in rubber boats and larger craft.

The Geology Agency warned that Anak Krakatau remains highly active. Explosions continue to hurl ash, lava fragments and incandescent material into the sky, and the risk of further eruptions—or even a sudden tsunami—has not subsided. Residents, tourists and fishermen have been urged to keep at least three kilometres away from the crater.

The eruption has already taken a toll on daily life. Airport closures on Sunday and Monday forced the cancellation of nearly 3,000 flights, stranding over 340 000 passengers. Schools in ash‑affected districts switched to online classes to shield children from the lingering fallout.

Born from the cataclysmic 1883 Krakatau event, Anak Krakatau—literally “child of Krakatau”—has a notorious past. A 2018 eruption triggered a deadly tsunami that claimed more than 430 lives across Sumatra and Java. Today, Indonesia watches the volcano with a mixture of scientific vigilance and quiet dread, knowing that any misstep can turn a routine news assignment into a life‑or‑death gamble.

As the search drags on, hope hangs in the salty air. For the families waiting back home, every wave could bring a clue; every quiet moment, a reminder of how fragile the line is between curiosity and catastrophe.