• Indonesia has closed Mount Bromo national park due to an expanding wildfire.
• The fire has grown to approximately 176 hectares since it started earlier this week.
• Authorities are using helicopters and drones to combat the fire.

Indonesia has closed Mount Bromo National Park in East Java for all tourist activities as a wildfire, which began earlier in the week, has significantly expanded. The park operator announced the closure on Saturday evening for an undetermined duration to ensure the safety of visitors and staff, as the fire in the caldera area has burned around 176 hectares, increasing from around 60 hectares just days prior, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

In response to the worsening situation, Indonesian authorities are mobilizing hundreds of personnel, including firefighters and volunteers, to combat the blaze. The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency has deployed water-bombing helicopters and drone technology to tackle the fire in challenging terrains, as steep slopes and thick forest complicate ground access. This initiative aims to help control the wildfire that threatens both the park environment and surrounding areas, according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

As authorities investigate the cause of the fire, it’s noteworthy that Indonesia is currently facing an unusually intense dry season, partly linked to the El Niño phenomenon. This seasonal impact has resulted in more extensive forest fires, with over 1,070 square kilometers of land burned in recent months, more than double the area affected last year, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.