Govt Hands Mount Bromo Forest Fire Investigation to Authorities
Forestry Minister entrusted law enforcement officials with investigating the causes of forest and land fires in Mount Bromo, East Java.
The Minister of Forestry in Indonesia, Raja Juli Antoni, has handed over the investigation into forest and land fires at Mount Bromo, located in East Java, to law enforcement authorities. When questioned about the possibility of intentional actions leading to the fire, Antoni stated that law enforcement officers are committed to taking strong measures against any party found guilty of prohibited activities that trigger forest or land fires. He emphasized that anyone involved in burning forests and land would face appropriate punishment.
The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) Center reported on August 7 that the cause of the fire in Mount Bromo was suspected to be human activity, based on the location of the fire's origin in the Bantengan Block area. TNBTS suggested that the fires might have been started during the cold weather in the region but not properly extinguished.
The government advised the public to refrain from using fire in forest areas to prevent further incidents. Antoni also noted that the El Nino phenomenon has made the dry season drier, increasing the risk of fires. During his visit to Mount Bromo, the Minister observed fire-fighting efforts firsthand in Probolinggo Regency, East Java, accompanied by the Deputy Governor of East Java, Emil Elestianto Dardak, and regional officials from Probolinggo Regency.
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