Anak Krakatau missing: Indonesia calls off search for 8, including 5 journalists
Synopsis
Seven days of searching the Sunda Strait turned up nothing — no boat, no survivors, no wreckage. Indonesia has now formally closed the hunt for five journalists and three crew members who vanished near erupting Anak Krakatau, even as a body found on Enggano Island awaits DNA testing. The case underscores the deadly risks of proximity to one of the world's most unpredictable volcanoes.
Key Takeaways
Indonesia officially ended the seven-day search on 17 September 2026 for eight missing persons near Anak Krakatau volcano .
The missing include five journalists and three crew members whose speedboat lost contact in the Sunda Strait on 7 September .
No trace of the vessel or passengers was found; the search was closed per National Search and Rescue Agency regulations.
A body found on Enggano Island is being examined for a possible link; DNA results are pending.
Anak Krakatau remains at Level III (Alert) with a 3 km exclusion zone ; authorities say no tsunami risk is currently foreseen.
The search can be reopened if new debris or information emerges, according to rescue officials.
Indonesian authorities have officially called off the search for eight missing persons — including five journalists and three crew members — who disappeared near the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano in the Sunda Strait on 7 September 2026, after seven days of operations yielded no trace of their speedboat or those aboard.
How the Search Unfolded
Al Amrad, head of the Banten Search and Rescue Agency, confirmed that the operation was wound down in compliance with National Search and Rescue Agency regulations, which mandate closure after seven days without results. 'On the seventh day, we also found no signs, no objects,' Amrad said, citing reports from the water police and the navy.
The speedboat lost contact while crossing the Sunda Strait, reportedly en route near the volcano zone. Search teams deployed across the waterway found neither wreckage nor survivors during the entire operation period.
A Possible Lead on Enggano Island
Police are separately examining a body discovered on Enggano Island for a possible connection to the case. However, DNA test results had not been released as of Thursday. Amrad indicated the search could be resumed if new information or debris linked to the missing vessel comes to light, and authorities have alerted vessels crossing the Sunda Strait while urging fishermen and coastal residents to report any relevant information to police or search and rescue agencies.
Anak Krakatau's Ongoing Eruption
The eruption at Anak Krakatau began at 11:07 pm local time on 4 September, with lava fountains observed between midnight and 6 am on 5 September. The volcano has remained intermittently active since early September, disrupting flights and airport operations in parts of western Indonesia. It is currently at Level III (Alert) status, with a three-kilometre exclusion zone imposed around its active crater.
Indonesia's Geological Agency noted that the volcano's structure — rebuilt following its catastrophic 2018 eruption — remains relatively small and is not currently considered capable of collapsing on a scale that could trigger a tsunami. This is a notable reassurance given that the 2018 flank collapse generated a deadly tsunami that killed hundreds along the Sunda Strait coastline.
Official Warnings to the Public
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) urged calm while stressing vigilance. 'People do not need to panic, but they must remain vigilant,' the agency said in an official statement. Residents and tourists were specifically warned not to enter the restricted zone or approach the volcano to observe or record the eruption. People in coastal areas of Banten and Lampung provinces were advised to follow updates only from the Geological Agency, BNPB, and local authorities rather than unverified sources.
The disappearance of the journalists has drawn wider attention to the risks of covering active volcanic events in Indonesia — one of the world's most volcanically active nations, sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Authorities have not yet issued a definitive explanation for the boat's fate, and the case formally remains open pending new evidence.
Point of View
No survivors, and a body on a distant island still unidentified — leaves the fate of five journalists and three crew members deeply unresolved. Indonesia's rescue protocols may be procedurally sound, but the human and press-freedom dimensions here are significant: journalists covering a natural disaster have gone missing without a credible account of what happened. Anak Krakatau's 2018 collapse triggered a tsunami that killed hundreds; while authorities say no such risk exists now, the exclusion zone is clearly insufficient if journalists were operating near it. The case is a stark reminder that access management around active volcanic sites in Indonesia needs sharper enforcement, not just public advisories.
NationPress
18 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Indonesia called off the search near Anak Krakatau?
Indonesian authorities ended the search after seven days of operations in the Sunda Strait yielded no trace of the missing speedboat or its eight passengers, in line with National Search and Rescue Agency regulations. The Banten Search and Rescue Agency head, Al Amrad, confirmed no objects or signs were found on the final day of searching.
Who were the eight people missing near Anak Krakatau?
The eight missing individuals comprised five journalists and three crew members who were aboard a speedboat that lost contact on 7 September while crossing the Sunda Strait near the erupting Anak Krakatau volcano. Their identities beyond these roles have not been fully detailed in official statements.
Is there any hope of finding the missing persons?
Authorities have said the search can be resumed if new information or debris linked to the missing boat surfaces. A body found on Enggano Island is being examined for a possible connection, though DNA test results had not been released as of 17 September 2026.
How dangerous is Anak Krakatau right now?
Anak Krakatau is at Level III, or Alert status, with a three-kilometre exclusion zone around its active crater. The volcano has been intermittently active since early September, disrupting flights in western Indonesia. Indonesia's Geological Agency has said the current volcanic structure is not considered capable of a collapse that could trigger a tsunami.
What happened during Anak Krakatau's 2018 eruption?
In December 2018, a flank collapse of Anak Krakatau triggered a devastating tsunami that struck the coastlines of Banten and Lampung, killing hundreds of people with little warning. Authorities currently say the rebuilt volcanic structure is smaller and does not pose a comparable collapse risk at this time.
