RRI.CO.ID, Nusantara – The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) has urged residents within the delineated area of Indonesia's future capital, Nusantara (IKN), to remain vigilant against the risk of forest and land fires (karhutla) during the dry season, which has been intensified by the El Niño phenomenon. In a press release received in Jakarta on Saturday, OIKN encouraged the public to immediately report any forest or land fire incidents through the IKNOW application by using its Panic Button feature.

Residents are advised to download the IKNOW app, activate the Panic Button, and send the location of the incident so the report can be forwarded to OIKN personnel and relevant authorities for immediate response.

"If members of the public encounter a forest or land fire, they should immediately report it through the IKNOW application by downloading the app, an integrated service for reporting various emergency situations such as fires, accidents, security disturbances, and other emergencies," OIKN said in its statement.

"Press the Panic Button feature and send the incident location. The report will be forwarded to OIKN officers and the relevant agencies for prompt follow-up," it added.

OIKN also stated the Panic Button feature was designed to speed up public reporting while supporting rapid response efforts to various emergency situations, including forest and land fires.

The Authority called on the public to play an active role in protecting the environment by promptly reporting any signs of fire. It emphasized that swift public reporting is essential to preventing fires from spreading and safeguarding the Nusantara Capital area.

In addition, OIKN reminded the public that those responsible for setting forest and land fires may face criminal sanctions under applicable Indonesian laws, including Law No. 41 of 1999 on Forestry, which carries penalties of up to 15 years' imprisonment and fines of up to Rp15 billion.

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate cycle that reduces rainfall across Indonesia, resulting in a longer and drier dry season. These conditions significantly increase the risk of forest and land fires.