Indonesia water-bombs wildfires near future capital

Indonesian authorities carried out aerial water drops on Saturday to stop wildfires spreading in Nusantara, the country's planned new capital in Borneo, Nusantara authority official Myrna Asnawati Safitri told AFP.

Safitri, the authority's environment and natural resources deputy, said fires have intensified since mid-August in buffer areas outside the core zone where Nusantara's development is concentrated. She said the water bombing operation was being used alongside ground firefighting and would run until Sunday, with the option to extend it if needed.

Safitri said Nusantara's construction has not so far been hampered by wildfires or haze.

Indonesia is also trying to contain wildfires across parts of Sumatra and Borneo. The fires have burned large areas and produced haze that has drifted to Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

Indonesia is building Nusantara to replace Jakarta as its capital. Then-president Joko Widodo revived the long-proposed move in 2019, but the formal transfer from Jakarta has not taken place. Local media reported that presidential spokesman Prasetyo Hadi said Nusantara should be ready to host the executive, legislative and judicial branches before the move can occur.