Saudi Ambassador prays for missing five Indonesian journalists

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Indonesia Faisal Abdullah Al Amoudi prayed for five Indonesian journalists and three boat crew members missing in the Sunda Strait to return safely.

“I hope the journalists who remain missing after covering the recent eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau will be found and return safely,” Ambassador Faisal said at a media briefing in Jakarta on Friday.

He also prayed for the safety of Indonesians and hoped the public and government would be given strength to face a series of recent disasters.

“Finally, we hope and pray to Allah that the Republic of Indonesia, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Arab and Islamic countries will always receive His protection, mercy, stability, and security,” Faisal said.

The five journalists went missing while covering Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruption in the Sunda Strait on Monday, September 7, and remain the subject of a search.

The missing photojournalists are Arie Basuki of Merdeka.com, M. Bagus Khoirunnas of ANTARA, Yudistiro Pranoto of iNews, Firdaus Wajidi of Anadolu, and freelance journalist Donal Husni.

The three missing boat crew members are Warta, the captain; Surakman, a crew member; and Heriyanto, a guide.

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) deployed 13 vessels across four search sectors on Friday, the fourth day of efforts to locate the eight people aboard the missing speedboat.

Banten SAR Office chief Al Amrad said the vessels included KRI Kerambit 627, KN SAR Tetuka, KP Hayabusa, KN SAR Basudewa, KRI Leuser 924, KAL Anyer, KP Sanjaya, RIB 02 Banten, RBB P Peucang, RIB Lampung, KAL Pahowang, TB Gunung Santri, and KRI Lepu.

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Translator: Uyu SL, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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