Wednesday, 09 September 2026
JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - The central board of the Pewarta Foto Indonesia (PFI), together with PFI Jakarta and PFI Tangerang, has stepped up coordination in the search for five journalists who lost contact while in the waters around Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait. The three PFI organizations are mobilizing their resources to support the search and evacuation operation being conducted jointly with the relevant authorities.
The five journalists departed from the Pagedongan Pier in Carita aboard a speedboat at around 2:00 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) on Monday, September 7, 2026. According to the official chronology released by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the group was last contacted at approximately 2:42 p.m. WIB.At that time, one of the journalists shared his last location with Putra M. Akbar, a colleague and PFI member in Lampung. The location was between Carita and Anak Krakatau. Following that last contact, communication with the group was eventually lost completely at 6:13 p.m. WIB.
The five journalists aboard the speedboat are M. Bagus Khoirunnas, a photojournalist with Antara News Agency; Ari Basuki, a photojournalist with Merdeka.com; Yudistiro Pranoto, a photojournalist with iNews.id; Firman Daus, a journalist with Anadolu Agency; and Donal, who works as a freelance journalist.The current situation in the Sunda Strait presents significant challenges to the search operation. Volcanic ash and difficult sea conditions require the highest level of attention and caution from all personnel involved.
PFI is mobilizing its members collectively to ensure that support for the Joint SAR Team can be provided without bureaucratic obstacles or tactical limitations. The organization is also continuously monitoring developments in the search operation in coordination with the relevant authorities.PFI Central Chairperson Dwi Pambudo emphasized that the safety of the journalists remains the organization's top priority amid the situation.
"The safety of our colleagues working in the field is our highest priority and is non-negotiable. The PFI central board, together with PFI Jakarta and PFI Tangerang, continues to operate under unified coordination in monitoring this rescue operation. We appreciate the swift response from Basarnas and the Banten Police Water and Air Police Directorate, which have moved into the operational area despite the difficult conditions, volcanic ash and high waves. We hope all of the journalists will soon be found safe and in good health, with nothing happening to them," Dwi Pambudo said.
The PFI central board has also reminded all photojournalists and media workers who continue to operate in areas affected by the eruption of Anak Krakatau to put their own safety first.
The organization urged journalists to observe the safety radius recommended by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG). The warning is particularly directed at media workers who remain in areas surrounding the zone affected by volcanic activity.PFI considers compliance with the safety distance essential to prevent additional risks during news coverage and the ongoing search operation. The dynamic conditions at the scene require every member of the operation to closely monitor developments and follow instructions issued by the relevant authorities.
In addition to issuing the safety reminder, the PFI central board urged all members to remain calm and carefully verify information circulating about the incident. This is important to avoid increasing the psychological burden on the families of the journalists, who are still waiting for news about their loved ones.PFI also called on all members to continue praying for the five journalists listed on the vessel's manifest, hoping they will be found quickly and safely return home.
The disappearance of the five journalists in the waters around Anak Krakatau has caused deep concern among the professional organization representing photojournalists. The PFI central board, together with PFI Jakarta and PFI Tangerang, continues to maintain coordination to support the ongoing search operation amid difficult conditions at sea and around the volcano.
PFI is placing the safety of the journalists first while also supporting the Joint SAR Team and the authorities carrying out the operation in the field.The organization also appealed to the public and all PFI members to rely exclusively on official sources for information regarding the progress of the search. Careful verification is necessary to prevent unconfirmed reports from causing anxiety, particularly among the families of the journalists who continue to await certainty about their whereabouts.
The five missing journalists had been traveling aboard a speedboat from the Carita area toward the waters around Anak Krakatau for journalistic assignments. After their last location was transmitted at 2:42 p.m. WIB, contact with the group was lost. At 6:13 p.m. WIB, the group was officially reported missing.PFI hopes that the search operation being conducted by Basarnas and the other responding agencies will quickly produce results. The organization also expressed its appreciation for the efforts of all personnel who continue the search despite the difficult conditions at the scene.
The professional organization called on all PFI members to remain calm, follow official information and provide moral support to the families of the five journalists until the search and evacuation operation is completed. (IDNC)REPORTER: H. Muhammad Said Harahap | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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