Indonesia uses 15 aircraft to fight wildfires via cloud seeding

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has deployed 15 aircraft to execute massive cloud-seeding operations across South Sumatra, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan to extinguish active forest fires, officials announced Monday.

The fleet includes military Hercules and CN-295 transport aircraft dispersing dry ice and sodium chloride into cloud formations during a projected multi-day period of favorable atmospheric conditions.

"Weather modification operations are currently being carried out on a massive scale. This may be one of the largest operations of its kind ever conducted in Indonesia," said BMKG Head Teuku Faisal Fathani in Jakarta.

Fathani stated that nine aircraft are actively flying missions over Central and South Kalimantan, while six are operating in South Sumatra to induce artificial rainfall across high-risk fire zones.

Favorable cloud formation potential is expected to persist in Central Kalimantan through Friday, while South Sumatra is projected to experience increased cloud density beginning Tuesday.

Executed under direct orders from President Prabowo Subianto, the joint initiative coordinates assets from the BMKG, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Forestry Ministry, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces.

To guide ongoing containment strategies, the BMKG has generated weekly risk maps through late November to identify priority subdistricts facing severe wildfire threats.

Translator: Fathur Rochman, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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