The area affected by wildfire within Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java has reached approximately 70 hectares, according to a report from the National Disaster Management Agency (Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana or BNPB) on the morning of Thursday, 6th of August.
Abdul Muhari, Head of the BNPB’s Centre for Disaster Data, Information and Communication, said in a report received in Jakarta that the affected land spans the administrative areas of Probolinggo Regency and Malang Regency.
In Probolinggo Regency, he said the fire burned around 10 hectares of land in the Watu Gede area of Sariwani Village, Sukapura District. Meanwhile, in Malang Regency, the blaze has consumed 60 hectares in the Jantur section of the national park.
The figures are based on preliminary calculations carried out by a joint response team as of the afternoon of Wednesday, 5th of August.
Muhari explained that the wildfire in the Mount Bromo conservation area was first detected on Monday, 3rd of August. As of now, there have been no reports of casualties.
Emergency response efforts remain underway, involving a joint team comprising the Regional Disaster Management Agency (Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah or BPBD), the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Authority, forest rangers and volunteers. Firefighting units and water tankers have been deployed to contain the blaze.
To support ground operations, East Java BPBD personnel have also deployed drones to map the distribution of hotspots in areas that are difficult to access.
Meanwhile, Sadono Irawan, Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division at the Malang Regency BPBD, said changing wind conditions could cause the fire to spread further. At present, the wind is blowing westwards at a moderate speed.
The wildfire has disrupted tourism activities in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park area. Access to the Mount Bromo tourist area via the Malang Regency and Lumajang Regency entrances has been temporarily closed.