Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesian emergency crews extended firefighting operations to two new hotspots at Mount Bromo on Monday, as national park authorities kept the popular tourist destination closed amid dry, El Niño-driven conditions.
“Firefighting efforts are still ongoing,” said Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), noting that crews were targeting fresh flare-ups at a valley site and near the Probolinggo-Malang border.
The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park will remain closed to visitors for at least another week until officials complete safety evaluations.
Dry vegetation and elevated temperatures have heightened wildfire risks across dry savanna areas, affecting major peaks including Mount Pangrango, Mount Rinjani, and Mount Bromo.
Meanwhile, plans to trigger artificial rainfall through weather modification operations remain stalled due to unfavorable atmospheric conditions.
Satyawan Pudyatmoko, Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation at the Forestry Ministry, said the meteorology agency (BMKG) expects dry conditions to persist.
“According to BMKG, it will likely not be possible for at least the next 10 days because the convective clouds needed for the operation have not formed,” Pudyatmoko explained.
Translator: Lintang, Kenzu
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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