Fire Burns Mount Gede Peak; Hiking Trails Closed

TEMPO.CO, Cianjur - A fire burned the western part of Suryakencana Square at the summit of Mount Gede in West Java. The hotspot was monitored by CCTV at around 12:49 local time on Monday, September 18, 2023.

Sapto Adji Prabowo, the head of the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park Office (TNGGP), said CCTV connected to his cellphone captured the movement of smoke in the savanna of Suryakencana Square.

“We are still monitoring it by sending officers to the fire location,” Sapto said in a phone call today.

According to him, the cause of the fire is still unknown. “We’ve just found out the location, while the cause and the extent of the burned area are still under investigation,” he added.

Sapto explained that when the fire broke out, the hiking trail was closed to prepare for the cleanup operation, which is scheduled for Wednesday, September 20, 2023.

“There were no hikers because the trail has been closed since yesterday (Sunday) to prepare for the cleanup agenda. Those who are at the site are only TNGGP officers making preparations,” he said.

Sapto could not yet confirm whether the fire had been extinguished or whether it was still spreading. However, the CCTV showed that the intensity of the smoke was starting to decrease.

“I’m on my way to the Mount Puteri Hiking Post to monitor it. We’ve sent 20 officers to extinguish the fire, and there's no report yet,” he claimed. 

Suryakencana Square at the summit of Mount Gede is a popular spot for hikers because of its Edelweiss field. Sapto said that the fire had not yet reached the area where the eternal flowers grow. “Hopefully, it won’t reach that area,” Sapto said.

DEDEN ABDUL AZIZ

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