Fire near Indonesia’s Mount Bromo extinguished after burning 550 hectares; new hotspots detected

A wildfire that raged through Indonesia's Mount Bromo National Park in East Java has been extinguished, officials confirmed, though new hotspots have emerged near the caldera. The fire, which began on August 3, consumed approximately 550 hectares (1,360 acres) before being fully put out, according to Gatot Soebroto, head of the local disaster mitigation agency.

Despite the main fire being extinguished, authorities have identified new blazes in areas surrounding the caldera, covering about 20 hectares. Mount Bromo, an active volcano and a popular tourist destination known for its "sand sea" caldera, is located within a national park spanning over 50,000 hectares.

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The fire around the caldera is likely to spread further on Monday.

"The fire around the caldera is likely to spread further on Monday," Soebroto warned. In response, more than 120 personnel, supported by three water-bombing helicopters, drones, and several fire trucks, have been deployed to tackle the new fires. The national park has been closed since Saturday evening due to the fire.

While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, Soebroto indicated that authorities suspect carelessness. "A person lit a fire, then put it out – but the fire was not fully extinguished," he stated, explaining that the initial flame was discovered along a route commonly used by visitors. No casualties have been reported in connection with the incident.

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A person lit a fire, then put it out – but the fire was not fully extinguished.