Kalimantan-Sumatra Wildfires, Indonesia Performs Weather Modification

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) performed weather modification that was hoped to be able to create artificial rains to mitigate wildfires and drought in Central Kalimantan and Jambi, Sumatra. In Central Kalimantan, the artificial rain was scheduled to take place on October 7-8, while in Jabi on October 3-7.

BNPB official Captain Achmad Nur Wahyudi said that around 1,000 kilograms of NaCl would be sprinkled from above by using a helicopter. The area is the Radial 360-90 DME 0-60NM, which includes Banjar Regency, Banjarbaru City, Tapin Regency, and Tanah Bambu Regency.

Weather modification would also be done in Banjar Regency, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, Hulu Sungai Utara Regency, and Tabalong Regency. "Hopefully, this will go as planned," said Nur Wahyudi on Friday, October 6.

The Head of the Jambi Disaster Mitigation Agency, Deliansyah, said that this effort was taken following the impact of the haze on the community. The weather modification was also carried out in accordance with the direction of the Governor of Jambi so that the smog carried through the air by winds from the southeast could be reduced, where currently the smoke is entering Jambi City.

BNPB sowed 1,500 liters of salt from Jakarta to Muarojambi, East Tanjung Jabung, and West Tanjung Jabung, Sarolangun, and western Jambi districts.

Through the weather modification, Bachyuni hopes that the impact of land and forest fires will be reduced. "When it is still needed, the Governor will ask BNPB for further assistance to carry out the next weather modification," Deliansyah remarked.

Antara

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