Komodo Watchdog Instagram Page Down After Covering Island Fire

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Instagram account of Kawan Baik Komodo (people’s coalition for Labuan Bajo’s Tourism) was unable to be accessed after they reported about a fire that broke out at the Rinca Island, one of three major islands in the Komodo National Park.

Account moderators announced that posts on its social media feed disappeared just 2 hours after reporting about the news. 

They announced the situation through its Twitter account, which wrote; “Last night just 2 hours after reporting about the fire at the Rinca Island and resort concession located there, all of our posts vanished and the account is unable to be accessed now.” 

The groups shared photos about the fire that threatens the Komodo’s habitat at Rinca. They explained that the fire first sparked on Tuesday and lasted until Wednesday night. Images about the incident show rangers and locals gathering to put out the fire in another account about Labuan Bajo. 

Kawan Baik Komodo wrote that there was no professional assistance in defusing the fire since Tuesday evening. 

“We worked around the clock, rangers and people are equally fatigued. No signs of professional help seem to be coming. This is how we manage a world heritage site claimed to be the nation’s pride and source of income,” the account wrote. 

The Tourism Ministry’s head of tourism in East Nusa Tenggara Zet Sony Libing, confirmed the fire had taken place and was defused on Wednesday noon. “The fire is no longer there,” said Sony in a phone interview.

He added that the location of the fire was 3-4 kilometers from the construction project being handled by the Public Works and Public Housing Minist. Sony assured that rangers and Komodo dragons are safe.

Read: Sandiaga Uno: Komodo Park Amdal Revision to Be Submitted to UNESCO September

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA