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Indonesian authorities have closed access to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on Java Island as firefighters battle a wildfire that has burned 176 hectares of land since Monday.
The fire is burning near Mount Bromo, a popular tourist destination in East Java. Authorities suspended visitor access late Saturday and said the closure would remain in place until further notice.
No injuries or property damage have been reported, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesman for Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency.
Two water-bombing helicopters have been deployed to help extinguish the fire in areas that are difficult for ground crews to reach because of steep terrain and strong winds.
Muhari said the challenging conditions made aerial firefighting essential for reaching areas that could not be accessed effectively from the ground.
“These conditions make air operations important to reach areas that cannot be accessed optimally by land,” the official said.
A wildfire destroyed more than 500 hectares around Mount Bromo in 2023 after a couple set off a flare during a pre-wedding photo shoot.
Indonesia is expected to experience a hotter and longer dry season this year, increasing the risk of wildfires and drought, according to the country’s weather agency, BMKG. The agency linked the conditions partly to the El Niño weather phenomenon.
More than 107,000 hectares of land were burned across Indonesia in the first half of this year, more than twice the area affected by wildfires in 2023.
