Govt Strengthens Telecommunications Network to Aid Search for Journalists Lost

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta — The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) has expressed deep concern regarding the loss of contact with a group of journalists who had been covering activities at Mount Anak Krakatau in the waters of the Sunda Strait since Monday afternoon. To support the search operation, the Ministry is strengthening telecommunications networks in the vicinity of the incident. This was announced by the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

The five journalists with whom contact was lost are M. Bagus Khoirunnas (photojournalist for Antara News Agency), Ari Basuki (photojournalist for Merdeka.com), Yudistiro Pranoto (photojournalist for iNews.id), Firman Daus (journalist for Anadolu Agency), and Donal Husni (freelance journalist). Three speedboat crew members are also missing along with them; contact with the group was lost shortly after they departed for the Mount Anak Krakatau area. As of Wednesday afternoon, the whereabouts of the entire group remain unknown, and a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) operation is ongoing to locate them.

Meutya urged the public to pray for the safety of the journalists and the boat crew. She stated that Kemkomdigi shares the anxiety felt by the families of those missing and fellow members of the press, and hopes that the entire group will soon be found safe.

To support the search operation, Kemkomdigi continues to coordinate with many institutions, namely the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) as the search and rescue authority, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), local governments, and other related parties.

This inter-agency coordination aims to ensure the search operation proceeds smoothly and that information about the developments in the situation is conveyed accurately and in a verified manner. From a technical communications perspective, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, through the Directorate General of Digital Infrastructure, is coordinating with telecommunications operators to strengthen connectivity in the area around the Sunda Strait to support search and rescue operations.

According to Meutya, the need for this network support will be continuously evaluated based on the evolving situation on the ground.

Meutya, as a former journalist, emphasized the importance of safety during news coverage activities, particularly in disaster-prone areas such as volcanic zones. She urged members of the press and the public to observe safety boundaries, follow instructions from relevant authorities, avoid hazardous areas, and pay close attention to weather, sea conditions, and volcanic activity before heading into the field.

In addition to safety advisories, Meutya urged the public to verify information about the incident and rely solely on official sources such as the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and local governments. She asked the public to refrain from spreading speculation, misleading content, or hoaxes concerning the condition of those missing or the progress of the search, as such actions could incite public anxiety.

She stated that the top priority at this time is the safety of all those missing and the smooth conduct of search operations, with official information to be disseminated through government communication channels.