Four individuals engaged in firefighting efforts in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on Indonesia’s island of Java have died, according to the Forestry Ministry. This incident occurred as Indonesia faces its most severe forest fires in over a decade. The fatalities were reported on Thursday, with the ministry stating that the victims were caught in the flames. Two additional firefighters have sustained serious burns and are currently receiving medical treatment. The forest fires have also affected neighboring countries, resulting in haze across the region, as reported by Reuters.
The ministry did not disclose the names of the deceased but expressed its condolences and honored the bravery of the officers, volunteers, and residents involved in firefighting efforts. It emphasized that the deaths serve as a reminder of the high risks associated with extinguishing forest and land fires, highlighting the importance of safety measures such as monitoring fire spread, wind direction, and maintaining evacuation routes.
The islands of Sumatra and Borneo have been identified as the most severely impacted areas. As of Thursday night, satellite monitoring detected 799 high-confidence hotspots across the country, an increase of 427 from the previous day. The ministry clarified that hotspots do not equate to active fires, as a single fire can appear as multiple hotspots.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has approved the acceptance of assistance from neighboring countries, as stated by Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir. Malaysia had previously offered to send three helicopters, an aircraft, and 52 personnel, though no further actions have been reported. Singapore has also expressed its willingness to provide help.
The ongoing forest fires have drawn significant criticism towards Indonesia, as they have led to respiratory issues for hundreds of thousands of individuals and prompted school closures in Malaysia and East Timor, according to Reuters.