KDM Orders Temporary Closure of Mountain Climbing Activities in West Java

Bandung, VIVA – West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi has instructed the temporary closure of mountains for climbing activities, as the area of burnt land and forests in West Java increased from 196.40 hectares to 228.07 hectares in the last week.

KDM, the familiar nickname for Dedi Mulyadi, has requested mountain area managers to temporarily close these zones to climbing activities to prevent fires from spreading further across the mountains during the dry season.

KDM expressed concern that fires lit by climbers could trigger land fires, as well as cigarette butts discarded by hikers.

“Mountain climbing is temporarily closed because there are concerns that climbers might light fires,” said KDM.

According to data from the West Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the total area of burnt land and forest in the province as of Monday, 31 August, reached 228.07 hectares.

These fires have occurred across 178 villages and sub-districts in 107 districts throughout West Java.

In various regions, there have been 156 fire incidents. The three regencies/cities with the highest number of fires are Sumedang Regency (21 incidents), Majalengka Regency (17 incidents), and Bandung Regency (16 incidents).

“In terms of land area, the largest fires occurred in Sukabumi Regency, reaching 49.20 hectares, Majalengka Regency at 26.16 hectares, and Bandung Regency at 24.80 hectares,” said Hadi Rahmat Hardjasasmita, Junior Expert Public Relations Officer for BPBD West Java, at another location.