Jakarta (ANTARA News) - An officer of Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) died when he was trying to extinguish land and forest fires in Ciemas sub-district, Sukabumi District, West Java, an official said.

"Dulman Efendi, chief of forest resort of Cikepuh wildlife preservation Suaka Margasatwa died while extinguishing the forest fire," head of the local Technical Division of Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Munarto told ANTARA here on Saturday.

Munarto further said that Dulman Efendi passed away when he was leading a team of forest fire fighting after the Friday prayer (September 11).

Until Friday (Sept 11) as much as 37 forest fires incidence occurred in Wildlife Cikepuh covering a total area of 337.4 hectares.

The fire incidence occurred on August 31 to September 11.

Earlier, the Head of Emergency and Logistics division of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Sukabumi District, Usman Susilo said on last Wednesday that the forest fires had also burnt 30 hectares of land in Puncak Bukit Habibie in Kampung Pasir Randu, Pasirbaru Village, Cisolok sub-district, Sukabumi.

Editor: Ade P Marboen
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