10 feared trapped in Mt. Slamet fire

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Ten hikers are feared to be trapped by a fire on Central Java's Mt. Slamet, which started on Sunday, according to local police.

"We asked them to come down, but they ignored our request and we had to leave them," Banyumas Police chief Sr. Comr. Nata Kesuma said on Monday, adding that he was with 130 police officers trekking on the mountain when the fire started.

"They might have found it difficult to find a safe route down because the fire has destroyed a lot of bushes and forest," he said.

He said the police were taking part in a hiking program, the final part of a series of tests for Sabhara police troops.

Purbalingga Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sofyan Abadi was also present during the training.

"We started trekking at 5 a.m. and saw no signs of a fire. But as we reached a certain level at about noon, some officers said they saw smoke, suspecting that it was from a bush or forest fire on the mountain. Soon after, we decided to descend and saw many people trekking. About ten people refused to join us and come down," Nata recalled.

The fire is located at about 3,000 meters above sea level on the 3,418-meter-high mountain. Mt. Slamet, located in the regency of Tegal, is the highest mountain in Central Java.

Until Monday, efforts to extinguish the fire had been fruitless.

Meanwhile, Banyumas Timur Forestry Office spokesman Sudiman said that 12 people, nine villagers living on the mountain's slopes and three people from the forestry office, had been trying to put the fire out using wooden clubs.

"They just clobbered the burning bushes. That's all they could do. There is no spring water up there," he said.

"So far, we have yet to be informed about the total area destroyed by the fire. We also don't know what caused the fire," Sudiman said.

In 1982, around 120 hectares of forest on the mountain was destroyed by fire.

Another fire engulfed Mt. Slamet in September 1995, destroying at least 152 hectares of forest area. As many as 22 people were trapped in the fire for 48 hours before rescuers could save them. (45/sur)