- Indonesia has temporarily closed nine national parks to hiking due to elevated fire risks as authorities prioritize firefighting operations in six provinces.
- Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced the closures on August 31, stating that the decision was made to ensure firefighting resources remain focused on priority areas.
- The nine parks closed include Bromo Tengger Semeru, Kerinci Seblat, and Mount Ciremai, among others.
- Approximately 170 hikers were rescued last week after being trapped by wildfires in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.
- On Tuesday, Pontianak recorded an AQI of 851, making it the most polluted city in Indonesia, while Palangkaraya had an AQI of 675.
- As of August 30, high-confidence hotspots in Indonesia fell to 946, but firefighting operations were still ongoing at 60 locations.
- Earlier in August, a fire at Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park burned for nearly a week, destroying around 550 hectares of land.
- The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre reported widespread hotspots in Kalimantan and Sumatra, indicating ongoing fire risks.
Indonesia has temporarily closed nine national parks to hiking due to severe forest fires impacting firefighting efforts across six provinces.1
Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni announced the closures on August 31, emphasizing the need to prioritize resources for firefighting operations.2
The affected parks include Bromo Tengger Semeru, Kerinci Seblat, and Mount Ciremai, among others.3
Limited hiking is still permitted in designated safe zones at Mount Rinjani and Mount Merbabu, but safety measures are in place following incidents where hikers were trapped by wildfires.
“Some water-bombing helicopters that should have been prioritised for the six provinces experiencing forest and land fires have also had to be deployed to national parks,” Raja Juli stated, highlighting the challenges faced in combating the fires.
The situation remains critical, with 60 locations still undergoing firefighting operations and 946 hotspots reported nationwide as of August 30.
Air quality in affected areas has deteriorated significantly, with cities like Pontianak and Palangkaraya recording hazardous air quality indices of 851 and 675, respectively.56
Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as peat fires can smolder underground, posing ongoing risks even after visible flames are extinguished.
“The closures follow a week-long fire at Bromo Tengger Semeru that razed 550 hectares and stranded 170 hikers, who were rescued. Meanwhile, Pontianak's AQI hit 851, and six areas in Sarawak recorded hazardous air, with Serian at 408.”
Batam News Asia
