REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TEMANGGUNG -- A forest fire on Mount Sindoro in Temanggung District, Central Java Province, has been extinguished, a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said. The incident has destroyed around 156 hectares of land,

"However, the mountain's climbing trails remain closed," BNPB Spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in his Twitter account that Antara qouted here on Monday evening.

Local residents and visitors, who want to perform an annual ritual to commemorate the Javanese New Year, or commonly known as 1 Suro, are not allowed to climb the mountain for safety reasons, he noted. The fire could likely engulf the affected areas due to the drought and strong winds, he explained, adding that the climbing trails had been closed to prevent people from climbing.

Meanwhile, Head of Temanggung Disaster Mitigation Agency Gito Walngadi earlier remarked that the strong winds had caused the fire to spread quickly towards the East. The forest fire has engulfed Sigedang area in Wonosobo District since Sept 9.

It then affected the patches of 10-4 in Temanggung District, he revealed. At least 180 people, including local volunteers and personnel of military, police, state-owned forestry company Perhutani, and disaster mitigation agency, have participated in the fire-fighting efforts, he noted.

"The Purbalingga and Batang Search and Rescue Agencies also deployed tens of their personnel to assist the fire-fighting efforts," he added.

Another forest fire had earlier engulfed Mount Lawu, located on the border of Central Java and East Java Provinces. Owing to its scenic view, beautiful Edelweiss flowers, and crater, Mount Lawu has become one of the mountains in the Indonesian island of Java, which is frequently scaled by mountaineers.

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