‘It will take years to heal’: Flames in Dzükou, anguish in Khonoma

“The valley is completely burnt,” Meyase said, expressing anguish over the devastation. “It will take years for the forest to regenerate.”

He added that the community had been preserving the area to the best of its ability, but much of it has now been destroyed.

While Khonoma village does not restrict entry to western Dzükou, prior permission is mandatory to ensure visitor safety and awareness of dos and don’ts. The Eco-Tourism Management Committee has been designated to manage entry points, guide tourists, and provide safety instructions.

“If they (the four trekkers) had registered, it would have been in our knowledge,” Meyase said, adding that the council had no record of their entry.

While the fire may not have been intentional, he maintained that the incident could have been prevented had the guidelines been followed.

“We are always delighted to see visitors enjoying the natural beauty gifted by God. But to see God’s creation destroyed is deeply disheartening,” he said.

Chairman of Khonoma Village Council, Ngusa Ratsa, echoed similar sentiments, saying that the village was pained by the devastation and disheartened by the entry of trekkers without permission despite the availability of a registration desk.

“During this time of the year, we receive around 300 to 400 visitors daily, and everyone registers. But these trekkers did not,” he added.

Council member Vinyü Meyase lamented the loss of forest cover and wildlife. “Animals and birds of various species have either been charred or forced to flee. It is heartbreaking, but there is little we can do now,” he said.

He added that entering the sanctuary secretly and causing such destruction was intolerable.

“Khonoma has suffered a loss, but above all, the people of the state have suffered. This place belongs to everyone,” he said.

Explaining the fire’s intensity, villagers said that vegetation in Dzükou is layered, and once it catches fire, it spreads rapidly and devastates large areas.

From the base camp, it takes about two hours to reach the peak, while descending to the valley takes another one-and-a-half hours.

For Rokozelhu Kuostu, a youth who has been involved in firefighting for three consecutive days as of Sunday, it takes about an hour to reach the affected site. However, travel time varies between one-and-a-half to two hours depending on terrain and location.

Currently serving as general secretary of the Khonoma Youth Organisation, Kuostu said that volunteers were using soil to douse burning trees, as water access is limited due to the terrain. They also used machetes to clear bushes to prevent further spread of the fire.

More than 50 students and youths from the village went up at different times on Sunday. On the first day, around 40–50 volunteers were deployed and also rescued the four trekkers. On the second day, the number rose to around 80.

Personnel from the Forest department, Fire and Emergency Services, Disaster Management, and Police also joined the operation.

Kuostu said the fire was first reported by two guides accompanying another group of visitors. The guides noticed smoke and alerted villagers.

He recalled that similar incidents had occurred in the past, after which the village strictly enforced safety guidelines. “Our first thought was that no one from our village would do this. We suspected it must have been outsiders,” he said.

Later, the individuals involved were identified through photographic evidence provided by tour guides.

“They had been camping there and reportedly lit a fire for cooking,” Kuostu said, adding that making fire is strictly banned in the area.