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Mount Bromo, a volcano in Indonesia's eastern province of Java, has been surrounded by wildfires burning since last week, charring approximately 520 hectares of land, according to a report by the Jakarta Globe.
Authorities have suspended all entry to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, a popular tourist destination that includes the mountain, due to the fires.
Firefighting operations are continuing from both the air and the ground. Three helicopters have been deployed to reach areas inaccessible to ground crews.
According to the Antara news agency, officials are also examining the possibility that the fires were deliberately set.
Indonesian Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni visited the fire site and told reporters he had instructed law enforcement to investigate the matter, adding, "Anyone found to have illegally burned forest or land will receive the necessary punishment."
By Aug. 9, authorities had shut down all access to the national park entirely, expanding from the earlier partial route closures
A National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson said steep terrain, strong winds and the fire's location in forested areas have made it difficult for firefighters to reach the blaze on foot, adding that air operations have become critical for reaching areas that cannot be accessed by land.
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