One More Volunteer Dies in Bromo Forest and Land Fire

Probolinggo, East Java (ANTARA) – The number of volunteers who have died in a forest and land fire on Mount Bromo, in Probolinggo Regency, East Java, has risen by one from the previous toll of three. Four personnel have now died after becoming trapped while tackling the blaze.

The dead were three Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) officers: Sukaris, Wisnu Yuda Pratama and Hendra Rony. The fourth victim was Sefriel Ardiansyah, an employee of the Artotel Bromo hotel. Two others, Munawi and Suraji, suffered burns and were referred to Dr Soetomo Regional General Hospital.

“Three victims died at the scene while fighting the fire, and one died while being taken to Tongas Regional General Hospital,” Probolinggo Regent Muhammad Haris said at a press conference at the hospital on Thursday evening.

He said two other victims had suffered serious burns and had to be transferred to Dr Soetomo Regional General Hospital in Surabaya for intensive treatment.

Haris said forest and land fires on Mount Bromo had been occurring for a long time. Fires in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park area were considered a near-annual occurrence, but had not previously caused any deaths.

“On behalf of myself and the Probolinggo Regency Government, I express my deepest condolences to the volunteers who died while on duty fighting the fire on Mount Bromo,” he said.

Haris explained that 12 people had initially been assigned to tackle the fire in accordance with standard operating procedures. As the fire spread, however, the team split up, and six people became trapped when the wind changed direction very quickly.

“Fire response has so far been handled carefully and properly. The Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) also went to the Bromo area to ensure the response prioritised the safety of personnel fighting the fire,” he said.