Fire Engulfs Mount Merapi Forest
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19 August 2019 12:04 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The forest slopes of Mount Merapi in Magelang Regency, Central Java, caught fire on Sunday night, August 18. So far, authorities have not been able to determine what caused the fire.
Edy Susanto, head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Magelang, said on Sunday that preliminary reports determined the fire broke in plot 36, namely in the Jurang Jero, Soko Hamlet, Ngargosoko Village, Srumbung District. He said the first hotspot was first reported at around 18:45.
"Currently, volunteers are trying to reach the location of the hotspots, but the terrain is quite difficult. Some hotspot are located above PUD 5, which residents call Resa," he said.
He said the BPBD is working with the Mount Merapi National Park (TNGM) to put out fires in the volcano's areas.
He said based on the results of coordination, if TNGM is unable to mitigate the fire themselves, they would ask for assistance from the BPBD Magelang.
ANTARA