Mount Bromo national park in East Java has been closed to tourist activities, its operator said as a wildfire, burning since last week, expanded in its caldera area.
The closure took effect from Saturday evening, for an undetermined duration, the park operator said.
The raging fire has burned an area of around 176ha at Mount Bromo, an active volcano that is a popular tourist destination known for its “sand sea” caldera.
“This closure is a crucial step to maintain safety of visitors, staff and people in the surrounding areas,” it said, adding that people who have bought entrance tickets will be able to reschedule visits or seek a refund.
East Java’s disaster mitigation agency said authorities are deploying water bombing helicopters and water spraying drones to bolster efforts to extinguish the fire.
Authorities have not declared what caused the fire, and there have been no casualties reported. — Reuters
