Ijen Crater temporarily closed due to forest fires: Official

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2 hours ago

Banyuwangi, East Java (ANTARA) – The Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Park (TWA) is temporarily closed following a forest and land fire, as informed by the East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA).

According to the agency’s Friday announcement, visits to the Ijen Crater TWA area in Banyuwangi and Bondowoso districts have been suspended due to forest and land fires.

“To minimize the risk to visitors, visiting activities in the Ijen Crater TWA area are being closed until further notice,” the announcement letter said, signed by the Head of the East Java BBKSDA, Nur Patria Kurniawan.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Banyuwangi District Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Partana, informed that the forest and land fires had spread near the Pondok Bunder area, which serves as a hiking trail to the Ijen Crater, resulting in the temporary closure.

He said a forest and land fire monitoring post had been established in the Paltuding area to strengthen surveillance, supported by fire trucks, BPBD operational vehicles, and personnel.

“In addition to ground response, the Banyuwangi BPBD is also coordinating with the East Java Provincial BPBD to discuss the possibility of airborne response,” Partana continued.

According to him, the terrain in the Ijen Crater TWA area is challenging, with steep cliffs and ravines making it difficult for vehicles to reach some fire-affected areas.

“Officers have also prepared approximately 15 jet pumps with a spray range of approximately 15 meters,” he added.

Earlier, the Forestry Ministry has temporarily closed access to nine national parks at high risk of forest and land fires.

The nine parks are Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, particularly the Mount Semeru hiking trail; Kerinci Seblat National Park; Mount Ciremai National Park; Tambora National Park; Manusela National Park; Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park; Mount Gede Pangrango National Park; Mount Leuser National Park; and certain routes in Lorentz National Park.

The ministry has also imposed limited access to several conservation areas, including Mount Rinjani National Park, Mount Merbabu National Park, Hyang Highlands Wildlife Reserve, also known as Mount Argopuro, and Mount Halimun Salak National Park.