489.07 Hectares of Land on Mount Merbabu Burned

Illustration of forest fires (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The burned area of ​​Mount Merbabu National Park has reached 489.07 hectares as of Sunday, October 29 evening at 20.00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said the fire on Mount Merbabu had been going on since last Friday and as of Sunday evening had not been extinguished.

The areas affected by the fire include Sokowulu and Ngaduman hamlets in Getasan District, Semarang Regency. The fire then spread to Puncak Syarif and Puncak Suwanting in Sawangan District, Magelang Regency.

"Fires in Boyolali Regency occurred on a small scale, especially in Sabana 2 in the Selo area, Boyolali, which is still in safe condition," said Abdul Muhari.

As a result of this fire, as many as 91 people, including adults and children, took refuge in the Batur Village Hall, Getasan District, Semarang Regency. They consisted of 47 people from Gedong Hamlet and 44 people from Ngaduman Hamlet, Getasan District.

Some people chose to stay in their homes and not evacuate.

"The joint team continues to work to extinguish the fire, monitor the movement of hotspots, take mitigation steps, and open a public kitchen," said Abdul Muhari.

Current urgent needs include food logistics, mattresses, filter masks and portable oxygen