OMM Newsroom
At least four people have died while fighting a wildfire at Mount Bromo in Indonesia’s East Java province.
The death toll rose to four on Thursday after another victim died while being transferred to hospital, state-run news agency Antara reported.
The victims included two officers from Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and two hotel employees. Two other people suffered serious burns while battling the fire and were hospitalized.
Probolinggo District Head Muhammad Haris said wildfires had occurred in the national park almost every year, but had not previously caused fatalities.
Twelve people initially joined efforts to contain the blaze under standard operating procedures, Haris said. As the fire spread, the group split up, leaving six people trapped when winds shifted rapidly.
Indonesia is experiencing an unusually prolonged dry season, with El Niño contributing to conditions favorable for wildfires.
