On the 28th of October 2023, a significant fire engulfed the slopes of Mount Abang, specifically within the protected forest region. This fire resulted in dense smoke covering the Karangasem and Bangli regions for the preceding two days.
According to Made Arta Wijaya, the spokesperson from management of the Protected Forest, stated that the fire’s origin was at the peak of the mountain and subsequently spread down the slopes into the protected forest.
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“The fire initially started at the top of Mount Abang, but now (29/10/2023), it has reached the Ban Village area in Kubu District, Karangasem Regency. The main factor contributing to the fire getting bigger is because there’s a lot of dry grass on the mountain’s slopes, making it challenging to extinguish.”
Mount Abang Fire Damage Unleashes Environmental Impact
By October 31, 2023, a total of 80 hectares of land had been consumed by the fire. Consequently, all access routes to Mount Abang were temporarily closed. During the incident, a group of climbers was present at the Trunyan post. They were witnessing the fire’s rapid growth and made the choice to descend from the mountain.
Firefighters faced significant challenges in extinguishing the fire within the protected forest area due to the extremely rugged terrain. As of the afternoon of October 30, 2023, the responders are still in the monitoring phase and haven’t been able to reach the closest point to the fire zone.
Mount Abang stands as one of Bali’s tallest peaks, towering at 2,152 masl, making it a beloved spot for climbers from Indonesia and foreign tourists. Notably, Mount Abang is categorized as a non-active volcano, rendering it a generally secure destination for tourists.
High Temperatures Sparks Mount Abang Fire
The primary cause of the Mount Abang fire was the elevated temperatures experienced in recent weeks. Furthermore, the abundance of dry vegetation in the mountain region facilitated the rapid spread of the fire.
This forest fire incident in Kintamani is not an isolated event, as similar incidents have previously occurred in various locations, including the Mount Batur area and a rubbish pile fire in Banjar Karuna Gunung Sari, all happening simultaneously.
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