Indonesia Battles Massive Wildfires Threatening New Capital
Massive wildfires spreading across Indonesia now threaten Nusantara, the $32 billion new capital under construction on Borneo, prompting authorities to deploy cloud-seeding and water-bombing operations. Over 458,000 hectares have burned acr
Reuters reported on September 5 that Indonesia is accelerating wildfire suppression efforts as blazes spread toward Nusantara, the new capital under construction. The project authorities have urged the disaster mitigation agency to conduct cloud-seeding and water-bombing operations to contain the fires.
Indonesia has intensified haze-control efforts across six provinces hardest hit by forest fires on Borneo and Sumatra, with total burn area exceeding 458,193 hectares to date. While fires have erupted at multiple locations across Borneo Island, the eastern region where Nusantara is situated remained relatively safe during the weeks since fires intensified with the onset of the dry season in July, though some fires have now reached areas surrounding the new capital.
Agas Riyanto, emergency response director at the disaster mitigation agency, stated that the largest wildfire in the new capital area occurred at a forest park on Bukit Suharjo Hill, approximately 50 kilometers from the city center, with over 1,875 hectares burned in that area and around 2,500 hectares burned in surrounding areas of Nusantara.
Former President Joko Widodo announced the 32-billion-dollar Nusantara project in 2019 to replace Jakarta, which faces chronic traffic congestion, flooding, and land subsidence. However, the project has experienced delays and budget cuts since President Prabowo Subianto took office in 2024. Urban planning expert Visnubroto Sarosa stated that Nusantara is not an ideal location for a new capital, as it is surrounded by forests and has limited water resources.
