en.malanginspirasi.com – A forest fire erupted on the peak of Mount Arjuno on Friday night, October 16, 2026, with large flames clearly visible from several points including the Pandaan area and the toll road heading toward Malang.
Videos and photos of the glowing mountainside quickly spread across social media, prompting concern among residents and motorists who spotted the blaze while traveling.
Gatot Subroto, Head of the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD Jawa Timur), confirmed the incident.
“There is indeed a forest fire on the peak of Arjuno. Ground teams from East Java, Mojokerto, and Pasuruan, as well as the Tahura team, are already moving to the location,” he told Radio Suara Surabaya.
Multiple residents reported seeing the fire intensify.
Also Read:
Toxic Haze Plunges Palangka Raya into Eerie Twilight as Wildfires Rattle Southeast Asia
Some observed the flames from the Pandaan toll road, while others traveling between Sidoarjo and Malang or along KM 54–60 toward Purwodadi described the blaze as clearly visible against the night sky.
BPBD and the Taman Hutan Raya (Tahura) Raden Soerjo response teams have been deployed to contain the fire. Officials have not yet released details on the exact size of the affected area or the cause.
Mount Arjuno, part of the popular Arjuno-Welirang mountain complex in East Java, experienced significant forest and land fires (karhutla) earlier this year.
Between mid-August and mid-September 2026, fires burned approximately 642 hectares across the Tahura Raden Soerjo area, with the largest portion on Mount Arjuno itself.
Hiking trails were closed for more than a month and only reopened at the end of September after the previous blazes were fully extinguished.
Authorities are urging the public to remain cautious and avoid approaching the area while firefighting operations continue. Further updates on the extent of the fire and containment progress are expected in the coming hours.
