Residents Of Ngaduman Hamlet Evacuated Due To Forest Fire On Mount Merbabu

Semarang Regency BPBD officers distributed masks to residents of Ngaduman Hamlet (photo: dock. intermediate)

SEMARANG - Head of the Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari, announced that residents of Ngaduman Hamlet, Getasan District, Semarang Regency, were evacuated as a result of forest and land fires (karhutla) on Mount Merbabu.

"The BPBD of Semarang Regency evacuated residents of Ngaduman Hamlet, Getasan District, to the Batur Village Hall hall because thick smoke from the fire had spread to residential areas," said Abdul Muhari, quoted from Antara.

This condition lasted until Saturday, October 28, with the fire not yet able to be extinguished. As a temporary measure, the Semarang Regency BPBD evacuated residents to the Batur Village Hall hall.

The beginning of the hotspots was discovered on Friday morning, October 27 in the Sokowulu Hamlet, Tajuk Village, Getasan District, Semarang Regency, Central Java. The fire then spread to the Ngaduman Hamlet because of the influence of strong winds.

The effort to extinguish the fire was carried out by a joint team through spraying water, making burnt barriers, and using gepyok to hit branches and wet branches.

This fire has greater fire intensity and strong winds. The Semarang Regency Karhutla Task Force faces limited number of personnel and difficult terrain constraints.

Mediarso, Head of Emergency and Logistics Division of the Semarang Regency BPBD, conveyed a plan to apply for water bombing assistance to BNPB and needed additional masks and logistics.

Forest fires on Mount Merbabu have caused losses, including the burning of pine forests in Mount Merbabu National Park, damage to residents' agricultural land, and damage to clean water pipes. Until now, there have been no reports of casualties.

BPBD Semarang Regency and the Gunung Merbabu National Park officers opened an emergency post for forest and land fires and continued to try to extinguish the fire and distribute masks to affected residents.