Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 08:19 AM

BNPB uses hybrid weather modification to disperse Anak Krakatau ash

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M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is using hybrid weather modification operations to accelerate volcanic ash dispersion from Mount Anak Krakatau, whose activity has spread ash across Jakarta, Banten, and Lampung.

BNPB Head Suharyanto said in Jakarta on Wednesday that modification flights remain on standby to operate through nighttime, combining two intensive atmospheric intervention techniques.

"The hybrid weather modification operation employs two techniques. When clouds are present, rainfall is induced, while in the absence of clouds, officers deploy water mist to break down and bind ash particles and hazardous pollutants," he explained.

Suharyanto noted that operations are centered at the Pondok Cabe Airport Command Post, with alternative flights from Majalengka prepared following Kertajati Airport's reopening.

Accelerated weather intervention was launched after Mount Anak Krakatau's eruption, raised to Level III (Alert) status since July 2, 2026, impacted three districts and 15 sub-districts.

The eruption also temporarily halted operations at eight major airports, including Soekarno-Hatta and Halim Perdanakusuma.

Despite disrupting daily activities, closing schools, halting fishing, and triggering respiratory irritation, BNPB confirmed no casualties or regional emergency declarations by local governments.

Suharyanto emphasized that the lack of a regional emergency status will not prevent the central government from delivering emergency aid under President Prabowo Subianto's direction.

BNPB is coordinating closely with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and regional disaster mitigation agencies (BPBDs) across affected provinces.

The intervention follow-up aligns with the Geological Agency's latest morphological assessment, which concluded Mount Anak Krakatau shows no current signs of large-scale landslide potential that could trigger a tsunami similar to the 2018 event.

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