Indonesia resumes search for 8 on Anak Krakatau trip

Indonesian rescuers resumed the search on Wednesday for a missing speedboat carrying eight people, including five journalists sent to cover the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau, the national rescue agency Basarnas said.

The group left by speedboat from an area west of Jakarta on Monday afternoon. Basarnas said the crew lost contact with the boat owner soon after departure.

The five Indonesian journalists were travelling to capture photos and video of the eruption, which for days paralysed several airports and covered cities including Jakarta in volcanic ash. They were accompanied by two crew members and a guide.

A search launched on Tuesday afternoon was paused hours later because of high waves and poor visibility. Basarnas said the search area was expanded on Wednesday and the operation included police, military personnel, fishermen, volunteers and other rescuers.

The agency said it had deployed high-speed search and rescue vessels, inflatable boats and thermal drones. It said the joint rescue team would continue using available personnel, facilities and equipment.

The journalists work for local and international media, including Indonesian state news agency Antara, Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu and local website iNews. Basarnas said one journalist contacted a colleague and shared his location at 3:00 pm on Monday, but had not been heard from since.

Marine accidents are a regular occurrence in Indonesia, due in part to lax safety standards and bad weather. In January, three Spanish tourists died when their boat sank off eastern Indonesia, and a 10-year-old boy was listed as officially missing, presumed dead, after authorities ended the search.