JAKARTA, 09 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Indonesia has closed all access to Mount Bromo National Park in East Java following the rapid expansion of a wildfire that has been burning in the volcano’s caldera area since Monday.The park operator announced the closure late Saturday, saying all tourist activities had been suspended from Saturday evening for an indefinite period.The wildfire has so far affected around 176 hectares (435 acres) of land at Mount Bromo, an active volcano and one of Indonesia’s most popular tourist destinations, famous for its vast “sand sea” caldera. The affected area has increased significantly from approximately 60 hectares reported on Thursday.

The park operator said the closure was necessary to protect visitors, staff and residents in surrounding areas. Tourists who had already purchased entrance tickets will be allowed to reschedule their visits or request refunds.Meanwhile, East Java’s disaster mitigation agency has intensified firefighting efforts, deploying water-bombing helicopters and water-spraying drones to help contain the blaze.Videos shared by the park operator on social media showed flames spreading across the mountain slopes during the night.Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the wildfire. No casualties have been reported so far.Mount Bromo is a major tourist attraction in East Java, drawing visitors from Indonesia and abroad for its volcanic landscape, sunrise views and distinctive sand-sea caldera.