Jakarta, Sept. 21 -- The Press Council declared five journalists missing in the Sunda Strait as press heroes after their boat vanished near Mount Anak Krakatau, calling the incident a stark reminder of safety needs in dangerous assignments.

Speaking following a joint prayer service in Jakarta on Monday, Press Council Chairman Komarudin Hidayat emphasized the immense risks photojournalists take to deliver crucial news and visual reporting to the public.

"We usually enjoy the images, yet sometimes we forget the struggle involved in capturing them," Komarudin said.

"When a tragedy like this occurs, we suddenly realize the high cost and immense difficulty of seeking out and securing the best shots," he added.

The five journalists missing ...