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Indonesia: Situation report #2 - Nagekeo earthquake, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) - Update: Sunday, 16 August 2026
Country: Indonesia Source: Human Initiative Please refer to the attached file. SITUATION REPORT #2 NAGEKEO EARTHQUAKE, EAST NUSA TENGGARA Update: Sunday, 16 August 2026, 07:30 WIB / 08:30 WITA Time of Main Earthquake: Saturday, 15 August 2026, at 04:58:24 WIB (05:58:24 WITA). Magnitude & Depth: Magnitude (M) 7.7 | Depth: 15 km. The earthquake was caused by a thrust-fault mechanism along the Flores Back-Arc Thrust. Tsunami Potential & Aftershocks: The tsunami early warning has been officially lifted. Aftershock activity has begun to subside, although monitoring for secondary hazards remains ongoing. Epicentre: Located offshore at coordinates 8.42° S – 121.39° E, approximately 30 km northeast of Mbay, Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. Geographical Extent of Impact: 10 regencies and 1 city in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), 2 areas in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), and 2 regencies in South Sulawesi. UPDATE ON EMERGENCY STATUS AND RESPONSE (AS OF SUNDAY MORNING) Based on the latest multi-stakeholder disaster-response coordination as of Sunday morning, 16 August 2026: • Provincial Level: The decree establishing a 14-day Provincial Disaster Emergency Response Status for East Nusa Tenggara has been officially finalised to accelerate the delivery of ground and air logistics assistance to the 10 affected regencies. • Manggarai Regency: A Regent’s Decree establishes a Disaster Emergency Response Status, effective from 15 August to 13 November 2026. • East Manggarai Regency: A Regent’s Decree establishes a Disaster Emergency Preparedness Status, effective from 15 August to 4 September 2026. • Ngada Regency: A Regent’s Decree establishes a 30-day Earthquake Disaster Emergency Response Status, effective from 15 August to 15 September 2026.
2026-08-17 11:39:40

Belgium: EU mobilises support as wildfires spread across Europe
Countries: Belgium, Albania, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Serbia, Spain Source: European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations The EU has deployed assistance to Belgium and Spain following their activation of the EU civil protection mechanism (UCPM), as wildfires continue to affect several parts of Europe. In Belgium, 2 planes from the EU's firefighting fleet, rescEU, were dispatched from Sweden to Belgium, alongside 2 helicopters from the Netherlands, 2 from Norway and 2 from Germany, supporting local firefighters battling the blaze in the Hautes Fagnes. More than 3,000 hectares have burnt to date. In Spain, 104 ground firefighters with 36 vehicles from France have come to the aid of Spanish firefighters in the Aragón region, where close to 16,000 hectares have already burnt. The EU is also supporting emergency services with satellite mapping. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service is active for wildfires in Belgium, Spain, Greece, Germany, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, France and Italy, providing rapid maps to help authorities assess affected areas and organise the response. Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib , said: ' No country should face wildfires alone. Through our civil protection mechanism, Europe is moving aircraft, helicopters and firefighters quickly to where they are needed most. This weekend in Belgium and Spain, European solidarity was on the ground again. ' The 2026 wildfire season is already exceptionally severe. By the end of July, the area burned was already 2,5 times the usual level in Europe. Through the UCPM, countries can rapidly draw on a much wider pool of firefighters, aircraft and other emergency capacities when national resources come under pressure. The European Commission's emergency response coordination centre is at the centre of this system: it receives requests for assistance, coordinates offers from Member States and participating states, and supports the deployment of the capacities offered. The Commission also co-finances the deployments. Publication date17 August 2026 Author Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO)
2026-08-17 11:33:07

Nigeria: EU provides €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to curb cholera outbreak in West and Central Africa
Countries: Nigeria, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad Source: European Commission's Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations The European Commission has allocated €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic and Chad to support these countries in addressing the ongoing cholera epidemic. According to the World Health Organization, more than 61,000 cholera cases were reported in the African Region in the first 5 months of 2026. In Nigeria , €1.5 million will help increase the number of intervention teams, provide essential supplies such as cholera kits, and support water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, including the treatment of public water points and household water. It will also help intensify epidemiological surveillance in inaccessible areas and strengthen case management, risk communication and community sensitisation. In Cameroon , €100,000 will support outbreak containment and case management, including through additional staff for humanitarian partners on the ground, essential medicines, additional cholera treatment units and oral rehydration points in the most affected villages. In the Central African Republic , €500,000 will scale-up case management and vaccination, as well as water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. It will also consist of strengthening risk communication and community engagement, boosting surveillance and case detection, as well as supporting dignified and safe burials. In Chad, €200,000 will contribute to breaking the chain of cholera transmission through improved access to water, sanitation, hygiene and community support for surveillance and case management. Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib , said: ' Cholera is preventable and treatable. Yet it still threatens lives when people lack something as basic as safe water and healthcare. At a time when humanitarian needs are growing and resources are shrinking, Europe is not looking away. This emergency funding will help our partners act quickly, contain the outbreaks and protect the communities most at risk. ' Cholera is caused by a Vibrio cholera bacteria . The infection spreads most commonly when people consume contaminated water. In severe cases rapid loss of body fluids can quickly lead to dehydration and shock. Cholera is not a common problem in Europe and the risk of spreading from imported cases is low. Publication date17 August 2026 Author Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) ## Related links Nigeria Cameroon Central African Republic Chad Health Water, sanitation and hygiene
2026-08-17 11:33:06

Lingnan University rises 300 places in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities Achieves biggest improvement and ranks 6th among Hong Kong SAR's eight UGC-funded universities
HONG KONG , Aug. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A spokesperson for Lingnan University welcomed the results of the 2026 ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). Lingnan rose significantly from the 901st to 1,000th band globally last year to the 601st to 700th band this year, representing an advancement of 300 places and the biggest rise among Hong Kong SAR's eight UGC-funded universities. The university has also risen to joint 6th place within this group. The encouraging improvement is consistent with Lingnan's upward trend in other international university rankings in recent months, reflecting the phased results of the University's continued strategic transformation in recent years and recognition from the international academic community. Lingnan University rises 300 places in the 2026 ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), from the 901st to 1,000th band globally last year to the 601st to 700th band this year, representing an improvement of 300 places and the biggest rise among Hong Kong SAR’s eight UGC-funded universities. The university has also risen to joint 6th place within this group. Lingnan's rise in the ARWU is driven by improvements across a range of indicators, including the number of Highly Cited Researchers, papers published in Nature and Science , papers indexed in major citation databases, and per-capita academic performance. A key factor behind this progress is the University's growing number of Highly Cited Researchers , a metric that accounts for 20 per cent of the ranking and reflects Lingnan's strategy of building a critical mass of high-impact researchers. Lingnan has also launched the Lingnan-60 Global Talent Recruitment scheme, which aims to bring in over 60 outstanding scholars from around the globe, strengthening the University's research capacity across disciplines. In recent years, Lingnan University has been committed to developing into a leading research-oriented liberal arts university comprehensive in arts and sciences in the digital era, while contributing to the development of Hong Kong SAR as an international education hub. In response to the transformation of higher education brought about by the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, the University has actively pursued its strategic transformation through "Liberal Arts + Technology" and "AI+", recruited talent from around the world, promoted campus internationalisation, and strengthened industry-academia-research collaboration, gradually establishing a distinctive and competitive development positioning. Recently, Lingnan participated in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings for the first time, ranking 84th in Asia and placing among the top 100 universities in Asia. In the newly released QS World University Rankings 2027, Lingnan rose by more than 120 places from last year to 581st globally, marking its biggest rise in recent years. In addition, in the latest THE Sustainability Impact Ratings 2026, Lingnan University rose from the 101st to 200th band globally last year to 63rd this year, entering the global top 100 for the first time. In the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education category, Lingnan retained its position as the world's number one. The University also ranked first in Hong Kong for six SDGs and placed seven SDGs among the global top 100. Looking ahead, Lingnan will continue to recruit top talent from around the world, promote campus internationalisation, and strengthen interdisciplinary industry-academia-research collaboration. The University will draw on the strengths of a liberal arts education in developing students' critical thinking, interdisciplinary thinking and ability to address complex social issues, while combining the humanities with cutting-edge technologies in science, technology and artificial intelligence to equip students to respond to new challenges in the digital era and develop innovative solutions.
2026-08-15 07:19:00

Global Times: China advances global AI governance on all fronts, turning principles into deeper, more concrete action
BEIJING , Aug. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- When machines begin to think, how should humans coexist with them? When algorithms participate in decision-making, how can security be ensured? When technology challenges ethics, how can governance keep pace? As the divide continues to widen, how can inclusiveness be achieved? At the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that we should always guide AI development with human wisdom and international consensus, so that AI can truly become a mighty force that increases the well-being of humanity and advances human civilization. In the intelligent era, we share the same planet and must pull together. Standing at the forefront of the times and shouldering the responsibilities of a major country, China is advancing global AI governance in an all-round way, making it deeper and more substantive. From laying down the opening strokes through its own development, to the "broad-brush freehand" of top-level design, and then to the "fine-brush painting" of detailed implementation, China is working to make the dividends of technology benefit the world and to make the bottom line of security clearly visible. This is China's commitment to the world, and also humanity's answer to the future. Building a solid foundation for governance through strength at home Not long ago, Kimi K3, a new-generation large AI model developed in China, was released as open source and was made available for anyone to download. With 2.8 trillion parameters, it is currently the world's largest open-source model in terms of parameter count. Kimi K3 is one member of the "China team" in the AI field that have attracted global attention. Six of the world's top 10 applicants for generative AI patents are headquartered in China. The Financial Times has noted that Chinese companies are joining the global front ranks in AI innovation while outperforming their peers in cost efficiency. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to AI development, improving top-level design, strengthening work arrangements, and promoting an overall and systematic leap in China's comprehensive AI strength. Data show that the adoption rate of AI technology among China's manufacturing enterprises above designated size has exceeded 30 percent, the core industries of the intelligent economy have grown to more than 1 trillion yuan (about $139 billion), the number of generative AI users has surpassed 600 million, and China has become the world's largest holder of AI patents. China has achieved notable results in AI technological innovation and industrial applications, with its overall strength significantly enhanced. Standing at the new starting point of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), China is consolidating the foundation for innovation through greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology and embracing the global opportunities through the "AI Plus" initiative. China is entering a prime opportunity to develop its AI. This confidence comes from continuous breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields. Zhangjiang Science City, where the Zhangjiang Science Hall exhibition area of the 2026 World AI Conference is located, is home to hundreds of companies for chip designing, manufacturing, packaging and testing, with the scale of the industry accounting for about one-fifth of the national total. In the chip sector, which has been affected by external shocks, China has not only blazed a new path through independent innovation and self-reliance, but has also firmly kept the initiative in AI development in its own hands. "Computing power is the cornerstone of AI development and governance. It concerns not only technological breakthroughs, but also strategic initiative. Only by basing development on independence and controllability, while ensuring inclusiveness and accessibility, can we continuously strengthen the foundation for AI development," Moore Threads founder Zhang Jianzhong said. This confidence comes from an increasingly vibrant innovation ecosystem. With strong support from scientific and technological innovation, AI is being integrated across all areas of China's economy and society, entering ordinary households and bringing tangible benefits to people's livelihoods, making "Intelligent Manufacturing in China" another shining calling card of Chinese modernization. In Shunde, South China's Guangdong Province, and Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, after Midea's "AI agent factories" introduced SmartMore's AI visual reasoning platform, the pace of inspection came fully in line with the production rhythm. AI now directly participates in production decision-making, rapidly turning large models into productive capacity. In Nanchong, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, and Bozhou, East China's Anhui Province, iFLYTEK Healthcare's "AI Medical Assistant" has significantly improved the efficiency and standardization of medical record writing through functions such as structured consultations and intelligent prompts. A number of terminal device companies are relying on a well-developed industrial chain support system to accelerate the launch of new-generation products such as smartphones, intelligent robots and smart glasses, enriching market choices and creating new hot spots in information consumption. On August 12, Chinese smartphone brand Honor launched the world's first Robot Phone. "China has rich and diverse production and everyday-life scenarios as well as integrated software-hardware engineering capabilities, so this has provided excellent conditions for AI to be efficiently translated from needs into actual experience," Honor CEO Li Jian said. This confidence comes from institutional guarantee that coordinates development and security. Recently, Dongbi Tech Data, together with the School of Digital Economy at Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, released the Global Large Language Model Safety Evaluation Report (2026). Using 313 high-risk science and technology questions as the test set, the report assessed the security prevention capabilities of 38 large language models from China and abroad while helping users obtain, understand and use scientific and technological knowledge. "Currently, society as a whole is paying close attention to issues such as content security and data security arising from the large-scale applications of AI. Balancing development and security, and advancing scientific and technological innovation in parallel with the rule of law in science and technology and the building of ethics and integrity, will further guide large models and the entire AI industry toward positive and beneficial development and sustainable growth," said Zhu Xufeng, dean of the School of Public Policy and Management of Tsinghua University. In recent years, the State Council's Guidelines on Further Implementing the "AI Plus" Initiative have explicitly called for establishing and improving systems for AI technology monitoring, risk early warning and emergency response. The Implementation Guidelines on the Standardized Application and Innovative Development of AI Agents have also made clear that the development of AI agents should adhere to the basic principles of safety and controllability, orderliness and standardization, innovation-driven growth and application-oriented traction. China is accelerating efforts to build laws and regulations, policies and institutions, application standards and ethical guidelines that are suited to the evolving trends of AI, strengthening the security foundation for Chinese modernization and contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese approaches to global science and technology governance. Guiding AI governance with a global vision A recent commentary from The New York Times likened the development of cutting-edge AI models to two divergent paths. "The United States is behaving as though frontier A.I. models could be the equivalent of nuclear weapons, offering an immensely destructive form of power that requires a careful and jealous watch... Meanwhile, China treats the models that its companies produce as the equivalent of nuclear energy, a lower-risk technology to be shared and commercialized to win friends," read the NYT article. At the heart of these two approaches lies a fundamental difference in how AI is perceived: Is it a strategic asset to be monopolized in a race for dominance, or a public good that should serve humanity? China's answer is clear and unwavering: Put people first, ensure AI is used for good, and make it a powerful force for shared prosperity and common security. Xi called for joint efforts to build a just and equitable system for global AI governance, the Xinhua News Agency reported. This reflects a deeper understanding of technological and historical trends, promoting shared benefits through consultation and wisdom through good governance. It also demonstrates China's commitment to global AI governance, ultimately serving the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity. Embracing openness and win-win cooperation to drive innovation and empower industries. China has emerged as one of the world's most active and fastest-growing hubs for open-source AI models. Chinese open-source AI models have been downloaded more than 10 billion times worldwide, while open-source communities such as AtomGit have brought together more than 11 million registered users. From topping global large-model leaderboards in certain performance metrics, to steadily advancing multimodal capabilities, and to evolving from single intelligent agents into agent clusters, China's large-model innovation and iteration have been accelerating at an unprecedented pace. This has not only given rise to a diverse array of intelligent application scenarios and unlocked new potential for domestic economic growth, but has also driven technological inclusiveness through advantages such as high performance and low cost. Chinese large models have become "productivity tools" favored by developers and users worldwide, as well as benchmarks in global model evaluations and important reference cases for overseas research institutions. Openness and open source are more than just a technological development model. They embody a broader philosophy of collaboration and coexistence, as well as a commitment to sharing the fruits of development. China has launched the AI+ International Cooperation Initiative, calling upon all countries to proactively carry out AI+ campaigns in light of their national conditions, enhance policy exchanges and practical cooperation, and share best practices and solutions on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. The Action Plan for AI Cooperation and Development sets out eight areas of action, including sharing open-source ecosystems, jointly developing rules and standards, strengthening cooperation on safety governance, and ensuring AI is used for good. China has launched "Fenghe," a large language model for AI-powered meteorological services, and initiated a global open-source program. Strengthening risk awareness to ensure AI remains safe, controllable and trustworthy. With a deep understanding of the trends and logic of AI development, we are continuously improving laws, regulations, policies, mechanisms, application norms, as well as ethical principles to make sure that AI is safe, secure and controllable, and that this fine steed of AI gallops with both speed and stability, Xi said, according to Xinhua. China has put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative, advocating risk-based assessment, stronger laws and regulations, and the development of ethical guidelines. It has called on countries to jointly prevent risks and continuously improve the safety, reliability, controllability and fairness of AI technologies. China has also released versions 1.0 and 2.0 of its AI Safety Governance Framework, embedding safety requirements throughout the entire process of model development, deployment and application. The Global AI Governance Action Plan has identified "safety and controllability" as one of its core principles; An international action plan on AI ethics governance has contributed a framework that is both principled and actionable to global AI governance... From defining directions to charting pathways, China continues to provide international public goods, ensuring that the "swift horse" of AI runs both fast and steadily. Fostering inclusiveness and mutual learning to build a diverse and harmonious global civilization. Dujiangyan tamed the Minjiang River without dams, nourishing the Chengdu Plain for over 2,000 years. Confucius taught that "Gentlemen seek harmony but not uniformity." Civilizations have their own paths, best pursued through mutual respect and coexistence. Drawing on such Eastern wisdom, Lu Zilong, deputy chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization supervision committee, interprets China's coherent approach to AI governance. Today, the Eastern wisdom is being translated into concrete initiatives. The "cultural interaction engine," developed by the institute for Long-term AI Research Center and the Institute of Automation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, uses AI to uncover links between world cultural heritage sites, presenting the shared values and diversity of human civilization to users in more than 170 countries and regions. The Milan Winter Olympics has launched the first official LLM in Olympic history, powered by Qwen, a Chinese large model, serving both professional operations and public services, a new era of smart winter sports experiences. Chinese and Malaysian companies have jointly established a multilingual AI translation center for ASEAN, supporting translations across more than 130 languages and enabling film and television content to be translated in as little as 30 minutes. From cultural dialogue to sports, from language to human connections, Chinese AI is bridging distances, allowing civilizations to flourish through inclusivity and be revitalized through exchanges. Promoting solidarity and improving global governance to prevent new historical injustices in the AI era. During the 2026 WAIC and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) was established, with 38 countries becoming its founding members. The blueprint laid out a year ago has now borne fruit. As the world's first intergovernmental international organization on artificial intelligence, WAICO is committed to AI for good and inclusive benefits, adheres to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and is open to all countries, charting a new course and coordinates for global governance in the age of intelligence. China has sought to translate its sense of responsibility into concrete action. By upholding multilateralism, bringing the international community together and continuously seeking the broadest possible common ground on global AI governance, China is working to ensure that AI can truly become a valuable common asset of all humanity. Looking to the future, fulfilling the responsibility of governance through action Looking back at the summer of 1956, the spark of "artificial intelligence" was quietly kindled at a workshop at Dartmouth College in the US. Over the past 70 years, AI scientists and researchers around the world have explored the unknown, moved forward through twists and turns, and achieved breakthroughs through perseverance, continuously expanding the boundaries of technology. History has witnessed Chinese science and technology carving furrows out of barren ground and setting off from a faint glimmer of light. China has progressed from following behind to running alongside others and then to gaining the initiative on more tracks. Every rut and every milestone along the way has deepened its understanding of the power of technology, while also prompting clearer reflection on where the road ahead will lead and how far it can go. Inclusive development for the benefit of all is the right path forward, and it is a path that grows broader as we travel further. Remote control of pond aeration, round-the-clock online monitoring of water-quality parameters, precise feeding by drones... In Takeo Province in southern Cambodia, with support from an integrated smart farm development program implemented by China, an intelligent rice-fish farming model has significantly improved the survival rate and quality of local giant freshwater prawn seedlings. Annual income per hectare has increased from about $1,000 to more than $3,000, bringing real increases to the incomes of local farmers. In Saraburi Province, Thailand, the Chinese-developed "YUKON" system has equipped a traditional mining area with a "digital brain." From excavators to mining trucks, and from power monitoring to transport routes, this parallel mining operating system, based on an AI large model, can make the optimal allocation of equipment across the entire mine within milliseconds. Efficiency has risen by 16 percent and electricity consumption has fallen by 20 percent. SCG International General Manager Jirapat Janjerdsak said, "China's AI technology has shown us the possibility of achieving a mine with 'zero casualty, high efficiency and low emissions.'" Along the Red Sea coast, as the tide recedes, sediment samples are collected into containers. Through China's AI-powered marine drug intelligent screening platform, they become a "seed bank" for new antibacterial agents. At Djibouti's Doraleh Multi-Purpose Port, extreme weather such as high temperatures, short bursts of heavy rain and sudden strong winds frequently causes disruptions. MAZU, an AI-powered meteorological early-warning solution from China, has helped establish a full-chain early-warning system covering "monitoring, forecasting, warning, services." Helping safeguard countless homes and protect peace and safety far and wide, Mohamed Ismail Nour, director general of the Djibouti National Meteorological Agency, said, "Djibouti hopes to steadily advance its economic and social development by drawing on Chinese technologies." To bridge the digital and intelligent divide, it is better to teach people how to fish than simply give them fish. Data from the International Telecommunication Union show that about one-third of the world's population still has no access to the internet. The World Bank's Digital Progress and Trends Report 2025: Strengthening AI Foundations shows that low- and middle-income countries lag far behind high-income economies in both the number of AI systems and available computing capacity; a survey by the African Data Centres Association has found that most of the world's data center capacity is concentrated in developed economies, with Africa accounting for less than 1 percent. Without coordinated intervention, disparities in AI development may further evolve into a digital and intelligent divide, or even a North-South divide, posing new challenges to global development. China has held AI capacity-building workshops, launched a special cooperation program on AI science and technology innovation under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, developed the "Digital South" brand under the Global Development Project Pool and established the China-ASEAN AI Industry Innovation Center... A series of pragmatic measures have crossed mountains and seas, using Chinese expertise to help countries, particularly those of the Global South, strengthen their capacity building. The great road takes us far when traveled together; working together, we embark on a new journey. China has announced that over the next five years, it will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs; develop international AI application cooperation centers with the ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and BRICS; and promote the applications of the MAZU AI-powered meteorological early-warning solution in 30 countries. Standing at a new historical starting point, China is willing to work with all parties with a more open approach, more pragmatic action and a longer-term vision, to seize the opportunities and address the challenges brought by AI development, creating a better future for human society. This was compiled and translated by the Global Times based on an article originally published on Page 1 of the People's Daily on August 13, 2026.
2026-08-14 05:18:00

Indonesia battles Mount Bromo wildfire as El Nino takes root

Malang, Indonesia: Indonesian authorities battled Friday to contain a wildfire that has swept through Mount Bromo National Park on Java island, destroying more than 120 hectares as the country braces itself for an extreme El Nino-fuelled dry season.

The fire started Monday near Mount Bromo in East Java, one of Indonesia's most visited tourist destinations but now closed until further notice.

Local authorities deployed two water-bombing helicopters against the flames that have razed at least 127 hectares of national park land to date, fire official Bambang Setyo Antoko told AFP.

The destroyed area is equivalent to about 180 soccer fields.

"We're very dependent on wind conditions," Bambang said of the firefighting effort ahead.

National park official Rudijanta Tjahja Nugraha said the area on fire was in a steep, cliffside region, making it difficult for firefighters to reach.

It was not known how the fire started, but Bambang said the park was extremely dry as El Nino conditions take root in Indonesia.

Mount Bromo, famed for its volcanic scenery, previously caught fire in 2023.

That blaze broke out when a couple lit a flare during a pre-wedding photo shoot and destroyed more than 500 hectares of land.

Indonesia's BMKG weather agency has warned that the 2026 dry season will be more intense and prolonged than usual, with a higher risk for wildfires and drought due in part to El Nino.

According to the Ministry of Forestry, more than 107,000 hectares of land burned in Indonesia between January and June this year -- more than double the area destroyed in forest fires in 2023.

The last El Nino helped make 2023 and 2024 the two hottest years globally on record.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that brings worldwide changes in winds, air pressure and rainfall patterns.

In India and Southeast Asia, it typically causes drier conditions.


2026-08-07 11:14:57

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