Four killed fighting East Java wildfire as Indonesia battles spreading haze
Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry says four people died and two were seriously burned at a national park, while fires have driven protests and haze across borders.
Four people fighting a wildfire in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, Indonesia, were killed on Thursday, October 15, the Forestry Ministry said. Two others suffered serious burns and were receiving treatment. The deaths come as fires across the country spread haze beyond its borders and put pressure on the government’s response.
The ministry said the four who died were caught in the flames. It did not identify them. In a statement reported by Al Jazeera, the ministry offered condolences and paid tribute to officers, volunteers and residents working on the fire lines. It described extinguishing forest and land fires as a high-risk operation and urged crews to track the spread of flames and wind direction, keep evacuation routes ready and reassess conditions throughout their work.
Hotspots rise as haze crosses borders
The Forestry Ministry said satellite monitoring had detected 799 high-confidence hotspots nationwide by Thursday night, 427 more than the previous day. A hotspot is not necessarily a separate fire: one blaze can produce several readings, the ministry cautioned. Sumatra and Borneo, near Singapore and Malaysia, are the worst-affected islands, according to Al Jazeera. Reuters reported that smoke from Indonesia’s fires had reached neighbouring countries.
The Straits Times reported protests over the fires in Central Kalimantan on Thursday, October 15. In Pangkalan Bun, representatives of 15 villages and volunteer firefighting groups called for a national disaster declaration and helicopters to reach blazes beyond ground crews’ access. Demonstrators also sought better healthcare, clean water and air purifiers. A village head, Yusuf, said residents had faced months of disruption to livelihoods, schooling and roads, according to local website Detikcom as cited by The Straits Times.
Students and community groups protesting in Palangka Raya demanded transparency over firefighting funds and action against companies they alleged were responsible for illegal burning, The Straits Times reported. The cause of the Bromo Tengger Semeru blaze has not been established.
Disaster declaration and foreign assistance
Newly appointed disaster agency chief Kristomei Sianturi said officials would assess whether to classify the fires as a national or regional disaster. He said the immediate priority was a fast, effective response, according to The Straits Times.
President Prabowo Subianto has approved accepting assistance from neighbouring countries, Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir said, according to Reuters as cited by Al Jazeera. Malaysia offered three helicopters, an aircraft and 52 personnel last month, while Singapore has said it is ready to help. Reuters reported no follow-up to Malaysia’s offer, as cited by Al Jazeera; it was not clear whether any foreign assistance had been deployed.
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Sources and context
- Four killed as Indonesia battles worst forest fires in more than a decadeAl Jazeera; article credits AFP and Reuters, and attributes the Forestry Ministry’s incident account to the ministry
- Protests spread in Indonesia as anger mounts over forest fires and hazeThe Straits Times (Arlina Arshad)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.