Indonesia closes Mount Bromo park as wildfire spreads; ferry fire kills one near Bali

Indonesia has closed the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java indefinitely after a wildfire burned 176 hectares of land on Mount Bromo since Monday, forcing authorities to mobilize hundreds of personnel and aircraft to combat the flames at one of the country's most visited tourist destinations.

The fire was likely caused by carelessness, with the first flame discovered along a route used by visitors. Authorities suspect a person lit a fire and attempted to extinguish it, but failed to fully put it out. The park chief, Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha, confirmed the closure would remain in effect until further notice, with no casualties reported so far.

Firefighting effort

More than 120 personnel, three water-bombing helicopters, drones and fire trucks have been deployed to combat the blaze around the caldera. Officials describe the operation as challenging due to high winds and rough terrain on the steep volcanic slopes, making many areas difficult to access by land. Air operations have become essential to reach zones inaccessible to ground crews.

New fires have also emerged in areas around the caldera, covering approximately 20 hectares, with authorities warning the flames are likely to spread further.

Broader wildfire crisis

The Mount Bromo fire is one of several burning across Indonesia. The country has lost more than 107,000 hectares of land to fire in the first half of 2026—more than double the area destroyed during the entire 2023 wildfire season. Authorities are attempting to induce rain through cloud seeding to combat the blazes.

The El Niño weather pattern has contributed to unusually dry conditions across Indonesia, increasing wildfire risk. Seasonal dry winds from Australia are further fueling the spread of flames.

Ferry fire near Bali

Separately, a ferry caught fire near Bali early Saturday morning, resulting in one death and the rescue of over 170 people. The vessel was carrying 131 people, including 17 crew members, according to the ship's manifest. The fire started at approximately 4:15 a.m. while the ferry was en route from Padang Bai port in Bali to Lembar port on the neighboring island of Lombok.