Jember fishing boat destroyed by waves; 3 fishermen missing

A fishing boat from Puger Subdistrict was destroyed after being struck by high waves near Paseban Beach in Jember Regency on Wednesday, August 19, 2026. The vessel, identified as KLM Pantes, was carrying five crew members.

Of the five crew members, one fisherman was found dead and one was rescued by a passing vessel. Three others remain missing after being swept away by the current.

On the second day of the operation, the Joint Search and Rescue Team expanded the search area across both sea and land routes. The search strategy involves three specialized units: one using rubber boats to cover 58.5 nautical miles, a second using local fishing boats to cover 49.2 nautical miles, and a third conducting visual sweeps along the Paseban coastline within a 14-kilometer radius.

The operation involves 29 personnel from Basarnas, BPBD Jember, BPBD Lumajang, the military, police, and local volunteers. The search area has been extended to include the coastal regions of Lumajang Regency.