Fires scorch nearly 660 hectares at two Indonesian national parks as firefighting enters fourth day

Jakarta, September 25 - Forest and land fires have ravaged approximately 660 hectares across two national parks in Indonesia, with firefighting efforts persisting into a fourth day, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). Acting head Berton Panjaitan of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre revealed that roughly 600 hectares were impacted in Way Kambas National Park, located in East Lampung, Sumatra, and 59.5 hectares in Mount Merapi National Park, situated in Magelang, Central Java, since the fires erupted on Tuesday.

The firefighting operations in Way Kambas faced challenges due to challenging access, limited water supplies, and the substantial distance between fire points and water sources. "Unsupervised burning activities can rapidly spread when vegetation is dry, especially when accompanied by strong winds," Berton cautioned in a recent statement.

Mount Merapi National Park encountered fires that torched grass and pine trees, as confirmed by drone monitoring, which indicated that around 59.5 hectares of forest were affected between September 22 and 24. Berton mentioned that the majority of the fire had been subdued by Thursday night, although joint teams continued to monitor and patrol the area, as residual embers persisted at various locations.

Both national parks serve as popular nature tourism destinations; Way Kambas is renowned for its Sumatran elephant conservation and the protection of endangered wildlife, whereas Mount Merapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, draws visitors with its volcanic terrain and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Fires also scorched roughly 280 hectares near the foothills of Mount Klabat in North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, and approximately 127 hectares in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, where firefighting efforts remained active.