Full Breakdown
Eight Missing After Speedboat Vanishes Near Anak Krakatau
9/9/2026, 9:25:36 PM
Core Event
On the afternoon of September 7, a speedboat departed from Carita in Banten province for Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait. The vessel carried eight people – five Indonesian photojournalists, two crew members and a guide. Contact was lost after the boat’s owner reported no further communication. By September 9, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) had resumed an expanded search, deploying high-speed vessels, inflatable boats and thermal drones. The missing group remains unlocated.
Background & Context
Anak Krakatau erupted on September 5, blanketing Jakarta with ash and grounding several airports. The Geology Agency reported intermittent explosions that ejected lava, ash and incandescent material. The eruption forced the closure of eight airports, disrupting 2,961 flights (including 622 international services) and affecting roughly 341,000 passengers. The volcano has been on Indonesia’s second-highest alert level (Level 3) since July, with a mandatory 3-km exclusion zone around the crater.
Timeline
- September 5 – Eruption begins, causing widespread ashfall.
- September 7 – Speedboat departs Carita; last known location later reported at 18.5 km from shore.
- September 8 – Search was paused due to high waves and poor visibility.
- September 9 – Basarnas resumes the search, expanding the area and deploying additional assets.
Data & Statistics
- 8 people missing (5 journalists, 2 crew, 1 guide).
- Journalists’ affiliations: Antara (Indonesia), Anadolu Agency (Turkey), Merdeka, iNews, and one freelance photographer.
- Last known position: 18.5 km (11.5 mi) from the coast.
- Flight disruption: 2,961 flights, 341,000 passengers affected.
- Ongoing volcanic hazards: volcanic bombs, heavy ashfall and possible lava flows.
Why It Matters
The incident highlights the difficulty of maritime rescues when volcanic ash limits aerial support.
Official Statements & Responses
Banten Search and Rescue chief Al Amrad confirmed loss of contact at 6:13 p.m. on September 7 and described the search area as extending across the Sunda Strait, from Carita to the islands of Rakata, Panjang, Sebesi and Legundi. The Geology Agency cautioned that volcanic activity remains elevated.
On-the-Ground Reports
Family members gathered at the Carita port office, awaiting updates. Riski Dwiyanto, head of operations at the Banten Search and Rescue Office, said weather conditions had improved and were “safe and highly favourable” for a sea sweep. Local volunteers, fishermen, police and military personnel have been rotating shifts in the search effort.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the identity of the Turkish journalist: some list a cameraman from Anadolu Agency, while others note the agency could not confirm any staff aboard. No definitive information on the guide’s identity has been released.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The joint search and rescue team will continue the search by optimising all available personnel, facilities and equipment,” — Banten Basarnas
- “We ask for prayers from the media and the public so that the joint search and rescue team can quickly locate the victims safe and sound,” — Mr Dwiyanto
What’s Next
Search operations continue with expanded maritime assets and thermal-drone surveillance. Authorities have not announced a deadline for concluding the search, and the Geology Agency will keep monitoring volcanic activity for any further impact on rescue efforts.
