Indonesia closes national park in East Java as wildfire expands

What the report says

Indonesian authorities have closed access to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java after a wildfire near Mount Bromo expanded rapidly. Al Jazeera, citing AFP, AP and Reuters, reported that the park operator announced the shutdown on Saturday and said it would remain in place until further notice. The park, which surrounds an active volcano and is a popular tourist destination, is being kept off-limits while crews try to contain the fire.

Officials said the blaze had burned about 176 hectares by Sunday, up from roughly 60 hectares on Thursday, suggesting it nearly tripled in size over a few days. The fire began on Monday, and Indonesia has deployed hundreds of firefighters, disaster response personnel, police, soldiers, park rangers and volunteers to fight it. Water-bombing helicopters and drones were also used to support ground crews.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari said steep ground, strong winds and the forested location were making access difficult for firefighters on foot. He said aerial operations were especially important because some areas could not be reached effectively from the ground. The park operator said visitors with tickets during the closure may request refunds.

The report also noted a broader context: Indonesia is expected to face a severe dry season this year, and wildfire damage in the country has already exceeded last year’s level. As general background, fires around Mount Bromo have occurred before, including a 2023 blaze linked to a flare during a wedding photo shoot.