Forests burn near Mt. Ciremai

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)