Disaster

152 Hikers Evacuated as Forest Fire Hits Mount Sumbing in Wonosobo

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 20, 2026•2 min read

A forest fire swept through the Mount Sumbing area in Wonosobo Regency, Central Java, on Monday afternoon (10/19/2026). A total of 152 registered hikers from Garung and Gajahmungkur basecamps were evacuated by basecamp teams together with a joint team. All hikers were reported safe.

Key Facts

The fire was detected on Monday (10/19/2026) at around 3:00 PM local time in Plot 29 of RPH Kleseman, BKPH Wonosobo, KPH Kedu Utara, at an altitude of 2,500 to 2,709 meters above sea level.
The blaze is located on the Gajahmungkur climbing route in Kalikajar District, Wonosobo Regency, Central Java.
A total of 152 registered hikers were evacuated from two routes: Garung Basecamp and Gajahmungkur Basecamp; the evacuation was carried out by basecamp teams together with a joint team.
All 152 hikers were reported safe and were descending toward the basecamps.
The cause of the fire and the size of the burned area have not yet been confirmed by the Wonosobo Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).
Manual firefighting efforts on Monday night were hampered by strong winds and dry vegetation; a full-scale operation resumed on Tuesday morning (10/20/2026).

Fire Detected Monday Afternoon

Wonosobo — A forest fire broke out in the Mount Sumbing area of Wonosobo Regency, Central Java, on Monday (10/19/2026) at around 3:00 PM local time. The fire was first reported by climbing porters on the Gajahmungkur route in Kalikajar District.

Flames were spotted at Plot 29 of RPH Kleseman, BKPH Wonosobo, KPH Kedu Utara, at an altitude of 2,500 to 2,709 meters above sea level. Strong winds and dry vegetation made the fire difficult to contain.

152 Hikers Evacuated, All Safe

Sumekto Hendro, head of the Wonosobo Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), said 152 registered hikers were evacuated from two climbing routes: Garung Basecamp and Gajahmungkur Basecamp. "The basecamp teams together with the joint team have evacuated 152 hikers according to registration," Sumekto said.

All hikers were reported safe and were descending. Sabarno, coordinator of the BPBD Wonosobo Rapid Response Team, had earlier cited 71 hikers based on information from a basecamp chief — also safe. As of Monday night there were no reports of injuries or fatalities.

Firefighting Resumes Tuesday Morning

Manual firefighting efforts by the joint team from several basecamps on Monday night failed to put out the flames due to strong winds and very dry vegetation above. Nighttime operations were not possible.

A full-scale firefighting operation resumed on Tuesday morning (10/20/2026). The cause of the fire and the size of the affected area are still being assessed.