East Java Police Investigate Bromo Fire That Killed Three

Surabaya (ANTARA) — East Java Regional Police are investigating the sequence of events surrounding a forest and land fire in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS), Probolinggo Regency, which killed three people and injured three others.

“We at East Java Police extend our deepest condolences over the deaths of the three people in this incident. We also pray that those who were injured recover soon,” East Java Police public relations chief Senior Commissioner Jules Abraham Abast said in Surabaya on Thursday.

According to preliminary information received by police, 12 people—including TNBTS personnel, members of the Fire-Aware Community and hotel employees—headed to the fire site at Pusung Lingker, Ngadirejo village, Sukapura district, at around 9am to help extinguish the blaze.

At around 1.30pm, personnel and volunteers at the scene were informed that several people who had joined the firefighting effort were believed to be trapped near the fire.

“Based on the initial information we received, there were six casualties. Three people died and three others suffered burns. The victims’ treatment is currently our priority,” Jules said.

One injured person was referred to Tongas Regional General Hospital for treatment, while the other two were treated at Sukapura Community Health Centre.

The victims’ full identities and the medical condition of those injured are still being recorded and verified with the relevant parties.

Local police officers are also taking statements from several witnesses to establish a complete account of what happened.

Jules said the cause of the fire and the sequence of events that led to the casualties were still under investigation.

“The cause of the fire and the events that resulted in deaths and injuries are still being investigated. We do not want to speculate before we have sufficient facts from the field examination,” he said.

East Java Police urged the public to stay away from areas still affected by the fire and to follow officers’ instructions for everyone’s safety.