Indonesia Ends Search for Journalists Missing Near Krakatau Eruption

Indonesian authorities ended a 10-day search for eight people who disappeared after a speedboat left Carita in Banten province for Anak Krakatau on Sept. 7. The group included five journalists from Antara, Anadolu Agency, Merdeka and iNews, plus a freelance photographer, two crew members and a route guide. Relatives received a last message at 6:13 p.m. Monday saying they had arrived near the volcano, about 18.5 km from shore. Rescuers were still unable to establish contact or determine their whereabouts. On day 10, Sept. 17, coverage expanded to 8,509 square nautical miles with 523 personnel and 24 vessels, including Navy, police, Basarnas and Ministry of Transportation units, across sectors A through J from western Sumatra to Merak waters. An aerial helicopter search on cloudy Monday found nothing. Basarnas checked Serung, Rakata and Panjang islands for possible emergency docking and found nothing. Al Amrad of the Banten Search and Rescue Agency said the search closed under national regulations after the seventh day brought no signs and no objects. Rizky Dwianto said there was no single point and the effort covered the entire area where the boat could have drifted.