TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - After a wildfire caught slope of Mt Merbabu last week, another wildfire catches the slope of Mt Merapi, Central Java. The fire had burned for three days before it was finally put off earlier Sunday, August 30.
“Fire had burned in two spots since the mid of August, but all were already extinguished,” said Nurpana Sulaksono, Region I Section Head of Mt Merapi National Park to Tempo on Sunday.
According to Nurpana, the fire razed Blok Genthong, Ngablak Village, Magelang, Central Java. On August 17, other fire had burned in Blok Tempel, Ngargosuko Village, Magelang.
“Around 20 to 30 hectares land is estimated to have been burned on Merapi slope this time,” Nurpana revealed.
Nurpana said that drought and high-speed wind had spread the fire to wider area on Saturday until 21.00 local time. It is said that the Early Warning System device to monitor cold lava flood was affected by the fire. However, it’s still unknown whether the device had damaged.
It is strongly believed that human error has caused the fire in Merapi.
“This is not a climbing route, and thee is no eruption or branches scraping, may be [someone] prepared for green field when the rain fall later,” Nurpana added.
PRIBADI WICAKSONO