Mount Budheg Tulungagung Climbing Line Temporarily Closed Post-hutla

Officers and volunteers tried to extinguish the flames that spread on the slopes of Mount Budheg Tulungagung, Monday (25/9/2023) (ANTARA)

TULUNGAGUNG - The hiking trail to tourist destinations at the peak of Mount Budheg (550 mdpl) Tulungagung, East Java, was completely closed from access to visitors after the forest and land fires (karhutla) which scorched the 10-hectare ancient mountain slope area.

"To avoid unwanted things, the climbing route (Gunung Budheg) is temporarily closed," said Head of Public Relations of the Tulungagung Police, Iptu Anshori, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, September 26.

The closure of climbing activities and tourist visits is due to the impact of forest and land fires that have not been completely extinguished. There is still a trail of smoke at several slopes, as a result of forest fires that hit most areas of Mount Budheg since Monday.

Although it did not spread to residential areas, the distance of the hotspots to residential houses was close enough, triggering fears of disasters spreading to villages.

"For the time being, but it can be localized with the equipment available by joint officers with residents and volunteers. Hopefully it won't appear (fire) again," he said.

So far the police are still trying to identify the cause of the fire. However, if there is a history of forest fires in this area that have occurred four times in the last five years, the flames are triggered by field clearing activities or clearing of leaf material and dry shrubs by burning.

According to a report by Perhutani officers, today's burned land is approximately 10 hectares. The fire reportedly appeared from above, around the peak and then spread down.

Head of Tangga Village, Suyahman appealed to residents not to burn garbage or leaves on Mount Budheg, because it is feared that it could trigger forest land fires.