BNPB deploys 130 personnel to extinguish wildfires on Mount Lawu

Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has deployed 130 joint personnel to put out wildfires on Mount Lawu in Ngawi District, East Java Province which has reportedly continued to expand.

“This time, fires have appeared in the Manyul and Campur Rejo Forest Management Resorts in Jogorogo Sub-district, northern part of Mount Lawu, Ngawi,” Head of Ngawi District’s Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Prila Yuda Putra noted in a press release issued by the BNPB here on Sunday.

He informed that large blazes were spreading to a number of spots in the area and appeared to be moving north toward the summit of the mountain.

According to him, the 130 joint personnel consist of officers from various institutions, including East Java BPBD, disaster agents from East Java Province, Ngawi District BPBD, Magetan BPBD, the Indonesian Defense Forces, the National Police, forest rangers, local Natural Resources Conservation Agency, and Ngawi Fire Department.

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Representatives from the state-owned forestry company Perhutani as well as the community also participated in the efforts to extinguish the forest and land fires.

“The difficulties in the fire-extinguishing process include steep terrains and strong winds,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the Head of BNPB’s Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Abdul Muhari revealed that the fires have ravaged up to 30 hectares of land in Mount Lawu as of Thursday (September 28) at 12.15 p.m. Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB).

“No casualties have been reported in the disaster,” he informed.

In response to the spreading fires, Ngawi District Head Ony Anwar Harsono has declared a disaster emergency status that will be valid for two weeks until October 13.