A person observes flames during wildfires on a hill slope in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in Probolinggo, East Java province, Indonesia.
A disaster mitigation agency officer observes an area affected by wildfire at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, which was closed for all tourist activities for an undetermined duration, in Probolinggo, East Java province, Indonesia.
Smoke billows over an area affected by wildfire as seen from the Lautan Pasir (Sea of Sand) area at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park which was closed for all tourist activities for an undetermined duration, in Probolinggo, East Java province, Indonesia.
A person rides a motorbike through the savanna area passing an area affected by wildfire at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, which was closed for all tourist activities for an undetermined duration, in Probolinggo, East Java province, Indonesia.
East Java disaster mitigation agency personnel deploy a water spraying drone to bolster efforts to extinguish the fire in areas affected by wildfire at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, which was closed for all tourist activities for an undetermined duration, in Probolinggo, East Java province, Indonesia.
JAKARTA, Aug 10 (Reuters) – A fire in Indonesia’s Mount Bromo National Park in East Java that burnt 550 hectares (1,360 acres) has been extinguished, an official said on Monday, but there are new hotspots near the caldera.
Here are some details:
- The fire, which started on August 3, had affected 550 hectares as of Sunday and had been fully extinguished, Gatot Soebroto, head of the local disaster mitigation agency, told Reuters.
- Gatot said authorities had found new fires in areas around the caldera covering some 20 hectares.
- Mount Bromo is an active volcano, and is a popular tourist destination and best known for its “sand sea” caldera. The national park covers over 50,000 hectares.
- “The fire around the caldera is likely to spread further on Monday,” he said.
- More than 120 personnel, three water-bombing helicopters, drones and some fire trucks have been deployed to put out the fires around the caldera, he said.
- Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire, but Gatot said authorities suspect it was caused by carelessness.
- “A person lit a fire, then put it out – but the fire was not fully extinguished,” Gatot said, adding this conclusion was reached because the first flame was found along a route used by visitors.
- The national park has been closed since Saturday evening because of the fires. There have been no casualties reported.
Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Editing by John Mair.
