Forest Fires Near New Capital Nusantara Prompt Water Bombing Operations

Forest fires (karhutla) are spreading in the buffer zone of Indonesia's new capital, Nusantara (IKN), in East Kalimantan, prompting authorities to intensify aerial firefighting operations. According to Myrna A. Safitri, Deputy for Environment and Natural Resources of the IKN Authority (OIKN), the firefighting efforts are targeting areas such as the Bukit Tengkorak area within the Taman Hutan Raya (Tahura) Bukit Soeharto National Park, the region from Bukit Merdeka to Teluk Dalam, and the peatland areas from Wonotirto to Tanjung Harapan. These areas are characterized by dry peatlands and hilly terrain, making aerial water bombing a more effective and safer method than ground-based firefighting. The OIKN is collaborating with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) for this operation. The Air Force has deployed one helicopter at the Dhomber Air Base in Balikpapan, equipped with a "bambi bucket" capable of carrying 2,000 liters of water per flight. The operation aims not only to extinguish hotspots but also to wet areas with potential for ignition. Water bombing is considered a crucial step in mitigating fire risk, especially amidst fluctuating wind conditions. The OIKN stated that it will continue to intensively monitor fire-prone areas throughout the high-risk dry season. Decisions on subsequent water bombing locations will be based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and reports from field personnel, particularly if wind and temperature indicators show increased risk. Source: CNN Indonesia