Fire Near Indonesia's Mount Bromo Put Out, but New Hotspots Flare Up
A blaze that burned through 550 hectares (1,360 acres) of Indonesia's Mount Bromo National Park has been put out, but officials say fresh fires have broken out near the volcano's famous caldera.
A fire that tore through 550 hectares (1,360 acres) of Indonesia's Mount Bromo National Park has been extinguished, an official said Monday, but new fires have already broken out near the volcano's caldera, according to Reuters, Channel NewsAsia and the South China Morning Post.
Gatot Soebroto, head of the local disaster mitigation agency in East Java, told Reuters the blaze had burned across 550 hectares as of Sunday before crews finally put it out. But he said fresh hotspots have since appeared in an area of about 20 hectares (49 acres) around the caldera, the crater-like basin known as the "sand sea" that draws tourists from around the world.
"The fire around the caldera is likely to spread further on Monday," Gatot said, according to Channel NewsAsia.
Crews Race to Contain New Blazes
More than 120 personnel have been sent to fight the fires around the caldera, Gatot said, along with three water-bombing helicopters, drones and fire trucks. The South China Morine Post reported that the national park's chief, Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, said the park would stay closed until further notice.
Mount Bromo is an active volcano and one of Indonesia's most visited natural landmarks, known for the vast, ash-colored crater floor that surrounds it. The national park spans more than 50,000 hectares (about 123,500 acres) of highlands in East Java. It has been shut since the evening of August 8, according to the Straits Times, which cited Reuters. Channel NewsAsia reported the closure began Saturday evening.
Cause Still Under Investigation
Authorities have not confirmed what sparked the fire, but Gatot said they suspect it was accidental. He said investigators traced the first flames to a route commonly used by park visitors.
"A person lit a fire, then put it out, but the fire was not fully extinguished," Gatot said, according to Channel NewsAsia and the Straits Times.
The fire is believed to have started on August 3, the Straits Times reported, citing Reuters, and had spread to 550 hectares by August 9 before firefighters brought it under control. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
It remains unclear how long the new fires near the caldera might burn or whether they will force authorities to extend the park's closure further.
Sources
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