Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Air Force deployed a Caracal helicopter equipped with a water bucket to help fight a forest and land fire near Nusantara, Indonesia’s planned new capital, in East Kalimantan Province.
The fire broke out near the border of Penajam Paser Utara and Kutai Kartanegara Districts, East Kalimantan, about 44 kilometers from Nusantara, according to a press statement from the military’s information center received here on Friday.
The aerial firefighting operation was conducted on Thursday (Sept. 3), after hotspots reappeared in an area previously treated by military personnel and local government officials.
“The fire reignited and burned about five hectares of land in Sukomulyo Village, Sepaku Subdistrict, Penajam Paser Utara District,” the military said.
The Air Force then deployed a Caracal helicopter to conduct water bombing over the fire to help accelerate firefighting efforts.
The military said firefighting operations were still underway when the information was released. It expressed hope that the aerial operation would help speed up efforts to contain the forest and land fire.
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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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