Forest fire kills 6 hikers in Indonesia

Seven hikers died after being caught in a forest fire on Indonesia’s main Java island, an official said Monday. Comr. Johanson Ronald Simamora told the portal that most of the victims hail from the neighboring Ngawi district and were there on a sightseeing exploration of the volcano.

At least three other hikers were also severely injured in the Sunday accident on the slope of Lawu Mountain, said Yatmo, a spokesman for the local Search and Rescue Agency.

“The sparks were on my jacket”.

“As I tried to escape I saw five people lying along the path with parts of their bodies on fire”, she said.

While nobody else has been reported missing, rescuers are combing the area to check for others who might be stuck on the mountain.

At least two others are fighting for their lives after suffering serious burns in the fast-moving wildfire that is believed to have been caused by a campfire.

Sunday’s fire was the second in two weeks on Mount Lawu, where a previous incident occurred in August after the start of the region’s dry season.