Key points
- Wildfire expands to 176 hectares in national park
- All tourist access closed indefinitely from Saturday evening
ISLAMABAD: Indonesia has closed all tourist access to Mount Bromo National Park in East Java after a wildfire expanded rapidly across the popular volcanic destination, authorities said.
The closure took effect on Saturday evening for an undetermined period, according to the park operator. The decision covers all tourist activities at Mount Bromo and was taken to protect visitors, park staff and people living in surrounding areas.
The fire, which has been burning since Monday last, has now affected around 176 hectares (435 acres) in the Mount Bromo area, a sharp increase from about 60 hectares reported on Thursday.
Mount Bromo: An active volcano
Mount Bromo is an active volcano and one of East Java’s most popular tourist attractions, known for its dramatic caldera and vast “sand sea”.
The park operator said visitors who had already purchased entrance tickets would be able to reschedule their visits or request refunds.
Firefighting operations have been complicated by the area’s steep terrain and strong winds, which have helped the flames spread across the slopes.
East Java’s disaster mitigation agency has deployed water-bombing helicopters and water-spraying drones to reinforce efforts to contain the blaze, according to Reuters.
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Footage released by the park operator showed flames spreading across mountain slopes overnight.
Earlier in the week, authorities said firefighters had struggled to reach several hotspots because they were located on steep slopes.
Two water-bombing helicopters were deployed on Thursday, and officials were also preparing cloud-seeding operations as an additional firefighting measure.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. No casualties have been reported from the Mount Bromo blaze, according to authorities.
The wildfire is part of an overall spell of forest fires in Indonesia. Fires have also been reported in parts of Sumatra and Borneo, where dry conditions can contribute to the spread of vegetation fires.
Indonesia’s forest fires have historically posed a wider regional environmental risk because smoke and haze can spread across national borders, affecting neighbouring countries including Singapore and Malaysia.
Mount Bromo’s closure is expected to affect tourism in one of East Java’s best-known destinations.
The national park, part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru conservation area, attracts visitors drawn to its volcanic landscape, sunrise views and distinctive caldera.
Authorities have not given a date for reopening the site. Access will depend on the progress of firefighting operations and an assessment of safety conditions in the affected areas.
