Jakarta – Indonesian rescuers have launched an intensive search for eight people who vanished at sea while traveling to the volcanic island of Anak Krakatau to cover an eruption, officials said Wednesday.
Missing crew and last contact
The speedboat departed from Carita, a coastal town in Banten province, with five photojournalists, two crew members and a route guide on board. The vessel’s last transmission, received by a journalist’s relative at 6:13 p.m. on Monday, indicated the group had entered the waters surrounding Anak Krakatau. No further contact has been made.
Rescue efforts underway
Al Amrad, chief of Banten’s Search and Rescue Office, said the boat’s last known position was about 18.5 kilometers (11.5 miles) from shore. Rescuers have been deployed since Tuesday but have been unable to locate the vessel or determine the whereabouts of those on board.
Volcanic activity and its impact
Anak Krakatau, meaning “child of Krakatau,” has been erupting intermittently since an initial blast on Sunday. Explosions have sent lava, ash and incandescent material skyward, prompting airport closures that disrupted nearly 2,961 flights, including 622 international services, affecting roughly 341,000 passengers.
The government also ordered schools in ash‑affected areas to shift temporarily to online learning to protect students from volcanic ash exposure.
Background on Anak Krakatau
The volcano emerged from the remains of the 1883 Krakatau eruption, which caused global cooling. A 2018 eruption of Anak Krakatau triggered a deadly tsunami that claimed at least 430 lives in Sumatra and Java. Since July, the volcano has been placed at Indonesia’s second‑highest alert level, with authorities urging residents, tourists and fishermen to stay at least three kilometers (1.9 miles) from the active crater.
Indonesia’s volcanic landscape
Indonesia sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” home to more than 120 active volcanoes, making eruptions a frequent occurrence. The ongoing search underscores the risks faced by journalists and rescue personnel who venture into hazardous zones to bring vital information to the public.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
