Malang, Jawa Timur (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s disaster management agency (BNPB) will deploy two water-bombing helicopters to help battle a wildfire spreading across the rugged terrain of Mount Bromo National Park in East Java, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
“Meanwhile, we will support the operation with two units,” BNPB head Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said in Malang, noting that ground crews are currently facing difficulties due to the area’s steep terrain.
The fire broke out on Monday at around 5 p.m. local time in the Bantengan area of Lumajang District before spreading to the Watu Gede area in neighboring Probolinggo District.
Ground task forces from Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) have been battling the blaze, but the difficult terrain prompted a request for aerial support.
BNPB aims to begin aerial firefighting operations by Thursday using either Mi or Sikorsky helicopters, depending on aircraft availability.
The agency’s aerial firefighting resources are currently deployed to peatland and forest fire response operations in six other provinces, including South Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and three provinces in Kalimantan.
“We will evaluate conditions on the ground to determine whether two helicopters are sufficient or whether additional units are needed,” Suharyanto said, adding that two helicopters proved effective during a similar wildfire at Mount Bromo in 2023.
Plans for cloud-seeding and weather modification operations remain on hold because of insufficient rain-bearing clouds, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG).
Ground teams continue monitoring firebreaks as dry weather persists across the region.
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Translator: Ananto Pradana, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
Editor: Primayanti
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