Indonesian authorities continued efforts to contain a wildfire that has spread across Mount Bromo National Park on Java island, destroying more than 120 hectares of land as the country prepares for an extreme El Nino-driven dry season on Friday.
The fire broke out on Monday near Mount Bromo in East Java, one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations. The area has been closed to visitors until further notice, reports AFP.
Local authorities deployed two water-bombing helicopters to battle the flames, which have so far destroyed at least 127 hectares of national park land, said fire official Bambang Setyo Antoko .
The affected area is equivalent to around 180 football fields.
“We’re very dependent on wind conditions,” Bambang said, referring to the challenges faced by firefighters.
National park official Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha said the affected area was located in a steep, cliffside region, making it difficult for firefighters to access.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, but Bambang said the park was extremely dry as El Nino conditions take hold across Indonesia.
Mount Bromo, known for its dramatic volcanic landscape, was also hit by a major wildfire in 2023. That blaze started after a couple ignited a flare during a pre-wedding photoshoot and destroyed more than 500 hectares of land.
Indonesia’s weather agency, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), has warned that the 2026 dry season will be more intense and longer than usual, increasing the risk of wildfires and drought partly due to El Nino.
According to the Ministry of Forestry, more than 107,000 hectares of land were burned in Indonesia between January and June this year, more than double the area affected by forest fires in 2023.
The previous El Nino contributed to making 2023 and 2024 the two hottest years globally on record.
El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that causes global changes in wind patterns, air pressure and rainfall.
In India and Southeast Asia, it typically leads to drier conditions.
