Six Dead in Bromo Forest and Land Fires
Six people have died in forest and land fires in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) area of East Java.
The latest death was recorded on Friday (23 October), when a victim died from burn injuries.
“Mr Suraji, a security worker at Artotel PT Mitra Indo Permai, who had been receiving intensive treatment after taking part in efforts to extinguish the fire in the Bromo area, passed away today at around 12 noon Western Indonesian Time,” TNBTS head Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha said on Friday.
Rudijanta said Suraji died after receiving intensive care. He had tried to put out the fire at the Tengger Laut Pasir Resort, in the Cemorolawang section of Probolinggo regency.
Suraji’s death adds to the number of personnel killed in the fire that has affected the Bromo conservation area since 15 October.
Five others had died earlier while fighting the fire at Pusung Lingker, Probolinggo. They were TNBTS staff members Sukaris, 55, and Hendra Rony Wagiyanata, 33; hotel employees Wisnu Yuda Pratama, 25, and Sefriel Ardiansyah, 19; and Munawi, 44, a member of the Forest Ranger Partner Community (MMP).
Forest and land fires that have recently affected several parts of Indonesia have also claimed lives elsewhere.
A 60-year-old man identified by the initials LJ died from burns when a fire swept through a plantation area on Jalan Anggur in Sidodadi ward, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on 13 October.
The victim and local residents had initially tried to put out the fire themselves to stop it spreading to nearby homes.
“An initial examination by the medical team confirmed that the victim died from serious burns and exposure to extreme heat,” Samarinda Ulu Police chief AKP Asriadi Jafar said, as quoted by Antara.
Media have also reported the deaths of personnel and residents who were trying to tackle forest and land fires.
Detik reported that Akhmad Rizani, head of the Jekan Raya District Fire Response Team (TSAK) in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, also died after battling a blaze.
The 53-year-old died on 27 August after being found curled up in pain following efforts to extinguish a land fire on Jalan Rungan, behind the Jekan Raya district office.
Children have also been among the victims of Indonesia’s forest and land fires, alongside volunteers and firefighters. The BBC reported that at least three children in Kalimantan had died as a result of the haze.