El Nino hits Indonesia as fire ravages Mount Bromo national park
More than 127 hectares of the East Java park have been destroyed, with two water-bombing helicopters deployed and the tourist site closed until further notice.
JAKARTA – Indonesian authorities are battling to contain a forest fire at Mount Bromo national park on Java island that has destroyed more than 120 hectares, as the country braces for an extreme dry season driven by the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The fire broke out on Monday near Mount Bromo in East Java province. The area is one of Indonesia's most visited tourist destinations but has now been closed until further notice.
Local authorities deployed two water-bombing helicopters to douse the flames, which have destroyed at least 127 hectares of the park so far, firefighting official Bambang Setyo Antoko told AFP. The burnt area is equivalent to roughly 180 football fields.
"We are very dependent on wind conditions," Bambang said of the firefighting effort ahead.
Park official Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha said the burning area lies on steep slopes, making it difficult for firefighters to reach the site.
The cause of the fire is unknown, but Bambang said the park was extremely dry as El Nino began to take hold in Indonesia.
Mount Bromo, famed for its volcanic scenery, was also hit by fire in 2023. That blaze started when a couple lit flares during a pre-wedding photo shoot, destroying more than 500 hectares. – AFP
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