(Antara/Siswowidodo)

At least seven hikers died and two were in critical condition after being caught in a forest fire on Mt Lawu, an official from National Mitigation Disaster Agency (BNPB) said on Monday.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said that currently a joint team comprised of officials from regional disaster mitigation agency (BPPD), state-owned enterprise Perhutani, volunteers and local people supported by military and police officers was still in the forest area and slopes of the mountain, which was located on the border of Central and East Java.

"They are still conducting fire extinguishing, cooling and sweeping in the slopes of Mt Lawu to check if there were any more victims or not," he said in a statement sent to thejakartarpost.com on Monday.

Sutopo said that the deceased victims were taken to Magetan Hospital by search and rescue officers.

The victims are: Awang (20) from Ngawi, East Java; Sumarwan (50) from Ngawi; Nanang Setyo Utomo (17) from Ngawi; Rita Septi (14) from Ngawi; Joko Prayitno from Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta; Nanang (SMK PGRI vocational school student); and another victim that has not been identified yet.

Meanwhile severely injured victims, Eko Nurhadi (45) from Brangol and Novi Dwi Estiwati (14) from Ngawi, have been admitted to Mardi Solo regional hospital.

Sutopo said that the Cemoro Sewu hiking trail had been closed since Oct 16 due to the dry conditions.

"It has been more than two months since rain fell in Central Java and East Java, which caused dry bushes to be flammable," he said.

Sutopo urged all hikers to put out their bonfires completely and also cover them with soil.

"High winds could reignite the fire and burn the bushes. It happens so often in the Java mountains," he said. (rin)(++++)

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