TNGM Increases Patrol To Anticipate Mount Merapi Forest Fire

DOC/ANTARA PHOTO/Hendra Nurdiyansyah/aww.

YOGYAKARTA - The Gunung Merapi National Park Center (TNGM) has increased patrols at a number of forest points in Mount Merapi on the border of Sleman Regency, DI Yogyakarta, with Magelang Regency, Central Java, to anticipate potential fires in the area during the dry season.

Head of TNGM Wahyudi said monitoring was coordinated with the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) because several fire incidents were also caused by material avalanches of Merapi.

"We are coordinating with BPPTKG on the direction and distance of the slide, as well as monitoring of hotspots that hit vegetation," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 2.

According to Wahyudi, one of the monitoring locations was carried out in Tugu Suharto, Jurang Jero, Magelang, Central Java, while in Sleman Regency, DIY was carried out in the Turgo Kecamatan area, Pakem.

The fire caused by the fall of Merapi, among others, occurred on September 30, 2023 when the avalanche slid upstream of Kali Krasak at 11.42 WIB with a sliding distance of 1600 meters.

"The fire was not visible at 12.07 WIB," he said.

In addition, on Monday (2/10) at 07.40 WIB, there was an avalanche with a sliding distance of 1,700 meters towards the Bebeng River and a few moments later a puff of smoke appeared upstream of the river.

According to him, at 09.00 WIB the smoke was not observed.

Although the avalanche of Mount Merapi did not always cause a fire, he said, surveillance was continuously carried out at a number of points that had these risks.

The reason is, the vulnerability of forest and land fires on Mount Merapi is still increasing due to the impact of the dry season.

During the supervision, TNGM also coordinated with the police, community, and volunteers in both Magelang Regency, Central Java and Sleman Regency, DIY.

"We continue to socialize to the public, including increasing fire prevention patrols involving the Fire Care Community (MPA) and the community of Polhut (MMP) partners," he said.