By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil
JAKARTA, Aug 10 (Bernama) — Indonesia has closed all entrances to Mount Bromo to visitors and suspended all tourism activities until further notice, as a forest fire continues to spread across the Bromo Caldera in East Java.
The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) authority said the closure took effect at 10pm on Saturday to facilitate firefighting efforts and ensure visitor safety.
TNBTS said the closure covers entrances at Cemorolawang in Probolinggo Regency, Wonokitri in Pasuruan Regency, Jemplang and Coban Trisula in Malang Regency, and Senduro in Lumajang Regency.
Meanwhile, National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Centre head Abdul Muhari said the wildfire, which has been burning since Monday, had scorched an estimated 176.20 hectares across Probolinggo and Malang regencies.
“A hotspot was still emitting smoke as of Saturday night, while teams continued monitoring the situation amid moderate winds,” he said in a separate statement on Sunday.
He added that two helicopters, each capable of carrying 1,000 litres of water, had been deployed to support firefighting efforts.
He said a separate forest and land fire, which affected an estimated 30 hectares in the Sembalun Resort area of Mount Rinjani National Park in East Lombok Regency, was brought under control at about 1.30 am on Saturday. The blaze started at about 8 pm on Friday.
The causes of both the Bromo and Rinjani fires remain under investigation, the BERNAMA report said.
Indonesia has been also battling forest fires in Southern Sumatra and Borneo island in the past one week.
Several neighbouring countries have been also experiencing hazy days during this period.