Kathmandu— Indonesian authorities closed Mount Bromo national park in East Java province on Saturday after a fast-moving wildfire nearly tripled in size since Monday, growing from approximately 60 hectares (150 acres) on Thursday to roughly 176 hectares (435 acres). The closure impacts tourists and staff, with refunds being offered for pre-purchased tickets as hundreds of firefighters and support personnel struggle to contain the blaze amidst challenging terrain.

Park Closure and Safety Concerns

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park operator announced the indefinite visitor ban on its Instagram page, citing safety concerns for tourists, staff, and surrounding communities. Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, the park chief, confirmed the closure would remain in effect until further notice. The decision aims to protect people as firefighters battle the growing inferno near the active Mount Bromo volcano, a popular tourist destination.

Firefighting Efforts Intensify

Indonesia has mobilized hundreds of personnel – including firefighters, disaster management teams, police, soldiers, park rangers, and volunteers – to combat the wildfire. Water-bombing helicopters and drones are being utilized in an attempt to reach areas inaccessible by land due to steep terrain and strong winds. Abdul Muhari, a spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, emphasized that air operations are crucial given these challenging conditions.

Dry Season Fuels Increased Fire Risk

The current wildfire is occurring during what is expected to be an unusually intense dry season in Indonesia, partially attributed to the El Nino weather pattern. The Indonesian weather agency BMKG has warned of warmer sea surface temperatures contributing to increased fire risk. This year, approximately 1,070 square kilometers (415 square miles) have already burned across Indonesian land – more than double the area affected during all of 2023. A similar fire on Mount Bromo in 2023 was sparked by a wedding photoshoot flare.

Past Incidents and Current Scale

The current blaze is reminiscent of a 2023 incident where over 500 hectares (1,235 acres) were scorched on Mount Bromo after a couple ignited a flare during a wedding photo shoot. However, the current fire has already surpassed that scale, consuming 176 hectares and continuing to spread rapidly.

Firefighting efforts are ongoing, with authorities closely monitoring the situation and assessing when it will be safe to reopen the national park to visitors.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.