Indonesia wildfires leave four dead after team trapped in East Java national park

Four men have died and two others were seriously burned while confronting blazes in Indonesia's Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park on the island of Java, officials announced on Friday.

The fatal incident occurred on Thursday in East Java province amid an ongoing regional crisis marked by extensive forest fires and dangerous smoke. According to national park spokesman Endrip Wahyutama, the victims became trapped by encroaching flames and heavy smoke. Three of the individuals died at the scene, while the fourth died after being transported to a hospital.

The deceased included two park officers and two security guards who were assisting with the containment efforts. The two injured survivors, identified as a volunteer firefighter and a local hotel security guard who assisted in the emergency response, are undergoing medical treatment for severe burns. Indonesia's forestry ministry emphasized that the tragedy underscores the extreme danger faced by crews deployed to control land and forest fires.

Wildfire activity has surged across Indonesia, with satellite data revealing a steep increase in hotspots—areas displaying unusually high surface temperatures. By Thursday evening, authorities recorded 799 hotspots across the country, more than double the 372 recorded just the previous day. The highest concentration was located in Central Kalimantan, on Borneo island, with southern Sumatra recording the second-largest share.

In response to the surge in Central Kalimantan, the forestry ministry stated that operations on the ground are being expanded. Officials voiced serious concern for regions surrounding Tanjung Puting National Park, a critical sanctuary for endangered orangutans.

Firefighting measures, including water-bombing flights and cloud-seeding efforts intended to induce rainfall, are encountering severe disruption. Forestry authorities reported that dense smoke from the fires has drastically reduced visibility, making aerial operations difficult to conduct.

The thick haze generated by the blazes has degraded air quality across parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan to unhealthy, very unhealthy, and occasionally hazardous levels, turning skies orange in several areas. The ministry has urged residents in affected communities to minimize outdoor activity and wear protective masks when going outside if air conditions deteriorate further.