Forests burn near Mt. Ciremai

CIREBON, West Java: Hundreds of hectares of forests in Sanghiang Uruy, near Mt. Ciremai, have been on fire since Tuesday evening.

According to officials in the nearby Kuningan regency, the fire, which had not been put out as of yesterday, was started by a campfire made by fruit collectors.

The size of the area burned is not known, Antara news agency reported yesterday.

Villagers in the area, with the help of 49 people from the surrounding regencies, have worked feverishly to prevent the fire from spreading, such as by digging ditches around the site.

The fire, which could be seen clearly from Cirebon, about 35 kilometers north of the site, was difficult to extinguish because water was sparse, residents said. (pwn)