All mountain routes in Central Java closed due to forest fires
The Department of Environment and Forestry of Central Java Province has issued a notice to national park administrations and mountain pass operators to immediately stop allowing travelers to climb. The temporary ban applies to the peaks of Lawu, Sumbing, Merbabu, Sindoro, Slamet and nearby mountain areas.
The restrictions were imposed due to large-scale bush and forest fires, the foci of which were found on the slopes of Lawu, Sumbing and Pakuaja. According to the leadership of the regional agency for the elimination of the consequences of natural disasters (BPBD), the fire is suspected to be human negligence. On Mount Lawu, the flames approached a distance of 5 kilometers from residential buildings.
Ground teams were deployed to extinguish the fires, laying protective mineralized strips, as well as helicopters from the Indonesian National Fire Protection Agency (BNPB) and the army for aerial water-dropping operations.
Sources: Demi Keselamatan, Pemprov Jateng Minta Semua Jalur Pendakian Ditutup Sementara - Espos.idCorroborating source 1Corroborating source 2
Context
The decision to close the routes was made amid the introduction of a provincial state of emergency preparedness due to drought and forest fires.