Indonesia battles wildfire at tourist hotspot Mount Bromo

Indonesian authorities are engaged in a difficult fight to control a wildfire raging through the popular Mount Bromo National Park. The blaze, which began last Monday, has been active for a week and forced the closure of the park to visitors on Sunday.

Fueled by strong winds and a lack of rainfall, the fire has already scorched more than 742 hectares of land, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Thankfully, no fatalities have been reported. The park's rugged terrain presents significant challenges for ground crews, leading firefighters to rely on aerial support. However, visibility issues caused by dense fog and smoke plumes have complicated these efforts.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs, Djamari Chaniago, stated that while several hotspots remain active, the main fire threatening the reserve has been extinguished. Local authorities are investigating the origins of the fire, with initial findings pointing towards human activity, as reported by the state agency Antara.

Mount Bromo, an active volcano standing at 2,329 meters, is a major tourist attraction on Java island. In 2025, the park welcomed approximately 650,000 visitors. Indonesia has seen a significant number of forest fires this year, with 375 recorded between January and August, burning 107,000 hectares nationwide. This year's fire season arrived earlier than usual, partly due to the El Niño phenomenon, which is predicted to cause a particularly intense and prolonged dry season in 2026, increasing the risk of further wildfires and drought.

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several hotspots are still active, although the main fire threatening the reserve has already been extinguished.