Police Check Items Found in the Sunda Strait, Confirm They Don't Belong to the Journalists' Boat
Banten Regional Police have confirmed that three items found in the waters of the Sunda Strait east of Rakata Island aren't related to KM Arupadhatu 1, the boat carrying five journalists and three crew members that went missing. The stuff includes a red plastic helmet, a blue plastic jerrycan with a black cap, and two orange life jackets, which were discovered by KN SAR Tetuka on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Banten Police spokesperson, Commissioner Maruli Ahiles Hutapea, explained that after checking and confirming with the boat owner, the two orange life jackets with MILLES.II written on them turned out not to belong to KM Arupadhatu 1. That boat actually has red, yellow, and purple life jackets without any writing like that. Meanwhile, the blue jerrycan they found looks different: it's longer, holds 35 liters, and is filled with vegetable oil, not Pertamax like what the boat uses.
They also made sure the red plastic helmet isn't part of the boat's gear because KM Arupadhatu 1 doesn't provide that kind of helmet. Banten Police stressed that these findings can't be linked yet to the group of journalists and crew who lost contact while heading to Anak Krakatau volcano for coverage.
Maruli urged people not to jump to conclusions and connect every found item to the group before there's an official check, and asked the public to stay calm and not spread unverified info.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/09/