Head of BB TNBTS administration, Septi Eka Wardhani, said on Friday that the figure reflected the cumulative damage caused by several fires.
"The total area affected by the fires is approximately 504 hectares," she said.
In the August–September 2023 period, there were several forest and land fires in the Mount Bromo area. The first fire, specifically in the Bantengan area, was reported at 11:30 p.m. local time on August 29, 2023.
At that time, BB TNBTS closed some tourist access points to the Mount Bromo area and reopened them on September 3.
However, on the same day it closed a number of tourist access points due to a fire in the Perum Perhutani area, which affected the Penanjakan View Point.
Tourist access was partially closed until September 5. On September 6, the area had to be completely closed due to a fire that was sparked by visitors setting off flares.
"For now, the fire has been extinguished," she said, adding that officers are still monitoring the situation.
BB TNBTS will continue to evaluate the situation for the next few days before deciding to reopen tourist access in the national park area, she said.
"If it is confirmed to be safe, we will reopen," Wardhani stated.
The Mount Bromo area is one of the leading tourist destinations in East Java. In 2022, it was visited by 318,919 visitors, with 8,501 of them were foreigners.
The non-tax state revenue (PNBP) from tourist visits to Bromo in 2022 reached Rp11.65 billion (around US$758,000), an increase of more than twofold from Rp4.85 billion in the previous year.
Related news: Joint officers extinguish land, forest fires at Mount Bromo: BPBD
Related news: Fire from flare on Mount Bromo proving difficult to contain: Ministry
Translator: Vicki Febrianto, Resinta S
Editor: Anton Santoso
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