JAKARTA, Sept 17 — Indonesian rescuers formally called off a search Thursday for eight people, including five journalists sent to cover a volcanic eruption, nearly two weeks after their speedboat went missing in waters between Java and Sumatra islands, an official said.

“The national search and rescue said that as this search and rescue operation has been deemed ineffective, with a heavy heart the joint operation... is hereby declared terminated,” Banten province governor Andra Soni told reporters. — AFP