Indonesia battles fire in national park amid severe drought

Indonesian authorities are making efforts on Friday to contain a fire that broke out in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on the island of Java, which has already consumed more than 120 hectares, as the country prepares for a severe dry season fueled by the “El Niño” phenomenon.

The fire erupted on Monday near Mount Bromo, one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations, leading to the park’s closure until further notice.

Bambang Setyo Antoko, a local fire official, told Agence France-Presse that authorities are using two helicopters to control the flames, which have already scorched at least 127 hectares of the park’s land.

The affected area is equivalent to approximately 180 football fields.

Bambang explained that firefighting efforts will largely depend on wind conditions in the coming days.

Rudiganta Cahya Nugraha, a park official, stated that the fire started in a rugged mountainous area with steep slopes, making it difficult for firefighting teams to access the site.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but Bambang noted that the park’s forests are extremely dry, with the impacts of “El Niño” being felt in Indonesia.

Mount Bromo previously experienced a fire in 2023, caused by a spark from a couple’s pre-wedding photo shoot, which burned more than 500 hectares of land.

The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics has warned that the 2026 dry season will be more intense and longer than usual, with heightened risks of forest fires, partly attributed to “El Niño.”

According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry, fires have consumed more than 107,000 hectares of land between January and June this year, more than double the area burned by forest fires in 2023.

“El Niño” was one of the factors that contributed to 2023 and 2024 recording the highest global temperatures on record.

The phenomenon causes changes in wind patterns, air pressure, and rainfall patterns worldwide. It typically results in drier climatic conditions in India and Southeast Asia.