A fire has devastated 60 hectares (148 acres) of land within the Mount Bromo area of a national park in Java, Indonesia’s most populous island. The incident, which began on Monday, has prompted a significant emergency response as authorities struggle to contain the flames.
Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, stated on Thursday that the rugged terrain is presenting major obstacles for ground-based firefighting teams. According to Muhari, numerous hotspots have been identified on the steep slopes of Bromo, which are difficult for personnel to access. Furthermore, strong winds in the region are threatening to accelerate the spread of the fire.
In response to the challenging conditions, the agency deployed two water-bombing helicopters on Thursday to target the hotspots on the steep slopes. Officials are also coordinating additional measures, including preparations for weather modification operations such as cloud seeding. As a safety precaution, Indonesian authorities have closed sections of the Mount Bromo tourist area until further notice. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This incident follows reports of forest fires emerging across Sumatra and Borneo since the beginning of the month. In West Kalimantan Province, the Ketapang Disaster Management Agency reported that one individual died after running out of oxygen while attempting to escape through heavy smoke. Forest fires on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo frequently occur during dry seasons, often resulting in haze that affects neighboring Singapore and Malaysia.
