Wildfires Edge Toward Indonesia’s New Capital, Sparking Regional Haze and Emergency Responses

On September 4, 2026, fires that had been confined to other parts of Borneo began spreading into the buffer zone surrounding Indonesia’s under-construction capital, Nusantara. The disaster-mitigation agency reported that, as of September 2, roughly 400 ha had burned near the site, including about 300 ha in the Bukit Suharto forest park ? 50 km from the city centre. Agency emergency-response director Agus Riyanto said a helicopter from South Kalimantan would be deployed for water-bombing, with cloud-seeding to follow when conditions allow.

Indonesia Battles Wildfires Near New Capital Nusantara The Straits TimesReutersIndonesia conducts water bombing to contain wildfires near future capital Euronews

The $32 billion Nusantara project was launched in 2019 by former President Joko Widodo to replace Jakarta, which suffers chronic flooding and land subsidence. Construction slowed after President Prabowo Subianto took office in 2024, amid budget cuts and scrutiny over water security. The 2026 fire season, intensified by a “super El Niño,” is described by officials as the most challenging dry season in a decade.

The Straits Times

• Fires have affected 73,311 ha across six provinces most hit by haze.

The Straits Times

• The disaster agency operates 53 aircraft for water-bombing and cloud-seeding; Japan has contributed additional assets.

The Straits Times

• Satellite monitoring recorded 946 hotspots on August 31, 2026, while the Forestry Ministry reported 717 hotspots nationwide since August 1.

NASA

• Douglas Uggah Embas, chairman of the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee, announced a state of emergency for Serian, Sarawak, after the Air Pollutant Index reached hazardous levels, urging residents to limit outdoor activity.

Al Jazeera (website)

• Rusdi Abdullah, a preacher at the state palace in Nusantara, called for “Istisqo” prayers for rain to alleviate the haze.

Reuters

In Malaysia, the haze prompted a state of emergency in Serian, where the Air Pollutant Index surged to 521, closing 647 schools and halting non-essential work. Parents in Kuala Lumpur kept children home, and a local Montessori head reported rising illness among students. In Singapore, the National Environment Agency warned that smoke from Sumatra and Kalimantan could reach the city if fire activity intensified.

Euronews

• “We must seek God's forgiveness and if it's granted, Allah will send abundant rain,” — Rusdi Abdullah

Reuters

• “Indonesia is only about three weeks into its fire season, but we're seeing fire activity track sharply upward, similar to 2015,” — Robert Field, Columbia University researcher

NASA

NASA’s MODIS-VIIRS data cite 946 hotspots on August 31, 2026, whereas Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry reported 717 hotspots since August 1. Both figures are presented without reconciliation, leaving the precise scale of active fires uncertain. The disaster agency lists 53 aircraft, but the exact contribution of foreign assets (e.g., Japan’s aircraft) is not quantified.

NASA

The proximity of wildfires to Nusantara raises immediate safety concerns for construction crews and future residents, while the regional haze threatens public health across Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. The events highlight the vulnerability of large infrastructure projects to climate-driven disasters and the need for coordinated fire-management and cross-border air-quality cooperation.

Al Jazeera (website)

Malaysian authorities have extended cloud-seeding in Serian through at least the following Monday, pending further air-quality assessments.

Al Jazeera (website)