BALI — More than 50 journalists from various media organizations across Bali gathered in front of the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Denpasar on Sunday (September 13, 2026), to hold a joint prayer for five journalists and three boat crew members who have been missing in the Sunda Strait while covering the eruption of Anak Krakatau.
The solidarity action was initiated by the Indonesian Photojournalists Association (PFI) Denpasar as the search and rescue operation entered its seventh day. The eight people lost contact while carrying out a journalistic assignment related to the Anak Krakatau eruption in the waters of the Sunda Strait on Monday (September 7, 2026).
The action was attended by journalists from several press organizations, including the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Denpasar, Ikatan Wartawan Online (IWO) Bali, Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) Bali, PENA NTT, and the Indonesian Cyber Media Association (AMSI) Bali.
Journalists Hope for a Breakthrough in Search Operation
PFI Denpasar Chairman Dicky Bisinglasi expressed hope that the search and rescue team would soon find a breakthrough in locating their missing colleagues.
He said the joint prayer was held as a form of solidarity and a way for fellow journalists to support the search operation.
“We all hope that by tomorrow, on the seventh day, they can be found or that there will be a better result through the prayers we offer today. Hopefully, these prayers can help facilitate the rescue team's search and lead to positive results,” Dicky said at the site of the action on Sunday (September 13).
Under Law Number 29 of 2014, search and rescue operations are carried out for seven days from the appointment of the Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC). The operation can be extended based on humanitarian considerations.
Dicky also said that the missing journalists were senior professionals who had a strong understanding of disaster mitigation and the risks associated with covering disaster situations.
“Unfortunately, tragedy has apparently come upon them. We don't know what happened. They are not newcomers; they are my seniors. Personally, I know four of the five,” Dicky said.
In addition to the joint prayer, the solidarity event also featured poetry readings carrying themes of the sea, struggle and hope.
Poet Pranita Dewi from the Denpasastra community recited a poem entitled “Kabar dari Laut” (“News from the Sea”). The event was followed by a reading of “Anak Yang Memeluk Matahari” (“The Child Who Embraces the Sun”), written by Moch Satrio Welang.
The gathering reflected the solidarity of Bali's journalism community with the families, colleagues and search teams involved in the effort to locate the missing journalists and boat crew members.
The five visual journalists reported missing in the Sunda Strait are:
Muhammad Bagus Khoirunnas, photographer for Antara's Banten Bureau.
Arie Basuki, photographer for Merdeka.com.
Yudistiro Pranoto, photographer for iNews.id.
Firdaus Wajidi, videographer for Anadolu Agency.
Donal Husni, freelance visual journalist.
They were accompanied by three boat crew members during the reporting trip to cover the Anak Krakatau eruption:
Warta, boat captain.
Surakman, boat crew member (ABK).
Heritanto, guide.
The Bali journalism community continues to hope that the search and rescue operation will bring good news and that the whereabouts of all eight people will soon be found.
