Serang, Banten. A joint search-and-rescue team on Wednesday expanded its search for eight people, including five journalists, who went missing while traveling toward Mount Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait to obtain footage of the volcano following an eruption on Sunday.

The operation entered its second day at 7 a.m. local time with 61 personnel from various agencies, according to Rizki, head of operations at the Banten search-and-rescue agency, or Basarnas.

Basarnas divided the operation into four search-and-rescue units (SRUs), with vessels assigned to different areas around the waters off Banten and Lampung.

The KN SAR Tetuka 247 was assigned to search up to 68.3 nautical miles, with 3 nautical miles between search lanes. The KAL Anyer naval vessel was tasked with covering up to 69.5 nautical miles, also with a 3-nautical-mile spacing between search lanes.

The RIB 02 Banten inflatable boat was assigned to search waters around Rakata and Panjang islands, areas identified as potential locations based on an evaluation of the first day's operation.

Two other vessels from Lampung were deployed to broaden the search. One of them will sweep waters around Rakata Island and several smaller islands near Mount Anak Krakatau in case the missing boat or its occupants drifted or became stranded there.

Rizki said the search was currently focused southwest of Mount Anak Krakatau, with the search area being expanded using several vessels.

“For today, we divided the team into five. We are focusing the search southwest of Mount Anak Krakatau and expanding the search area using several vessels,” Rizki said.

He said weather and wind conditions in the search area were favorable for the operation.

The search team is also taking into account the possibility that the missing vessel may have shifted position because of currents and changing sea conditions. Search areas will therefore be adjusted based on observations and developments in the field.

The families of the missing journalists have begun arriving to receive updates on the search operation.

The eight people being sought are the boat's captain, Warta, 55; crew member Surakman, 60; and guide Heriyanto, 49.

The five journalists are M. Bagus Khoirunnas of Antara, Ari Basuki of Merdeka, Yudhis of iNews, Daus of Anadolu and Donal, a freelance journalist.

Basarnas and other SAR agencies continue to conduct sweeps and monitor areas considered potential locations for the missing group.

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