BNPB says Labuan Bajo wildfire burned 25 hectares before being extinguished

Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency said a wildfire in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, was fully extinguished on July 16 after burning at least 25 hectares of dry vegetation.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency, known as BNPB, said the blaze was first detected at about 2:18 p.m. local time on July 15 in Labuan Bajo Village, Komodo District, and no deaths or injuries were reported.

BNPB’s disaster information chief Abdul Muhari said in Jakarta on July 17 that hot, dry weather and strong winds helped the fire spread quickly, according to Indonesian media reports citing the agency.

Local reporting also said firefighters and other emergency personnel worked together to bring the flames under control, with the final extinguishing effort completed on July 16.

What BNPB said

BNPB said the fire burned land in a dry, grassy area in the western part of Flores and urged residents and visitors to avoid activities that could spark new blazes during the dry season.

The agency specifically warned against carelessly discarding cigarette butts and burning waste in open areas, according to the reports.

Local media cited BNPB as saying the fire did not damage homes, tourism facilities or public infrastructure. The reports also said the agency did not identify a confirmed ignition source.

The wildfire came amid a period of hot, dry conditions in parts of East Nusa Tenggara, where authorities have repeatedly warned about fire risks in open land and savanna areas.

For Labuan Bajo, the incident adds to pressure on local fire crews and disaster officials as the tourism hub sits close to dry hills and grassland that can burn rapidly in windy conditions.

BNPB said the response involved a joint emergency team, but the reports available did not provide a full breakdown of all units deployed.

Sources

• Ntvnews.id
• RRI