INDONESIA STEPS UP CLOUD SEEDING EFFORTS TO COMBAT RAINFALL-RELATED DISASTERS

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, March 9 (Bernama) -- Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has intensified cloud seeding efforts to address rainfall-related disasters in flood- and landslide-prone areas.

The operation involved aircraft dispersing sodium chloride (NaCl) and calcium oxide (CaO) to manage rainfall intensity, which frequently threatens communities during the rainy season.

BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari, in a statement, said the operations have been effective in reducing the risks associated with extreme rainfall.

“These efforts highlight the value of weather modification, and we will continue using such strategies,” he stated.

Between March 4 and 8, BNPB, the Indonesian Air Force, and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) carried out several cloud seeding missions.

Last Friday, the operation resumed with five flight sorties, including two over the southern waters of Sukabumi, each dispersing 1,000 kg of NaCl.

Additional sorties dispersed 1,000 kg of CaO over the Citarum River Basin and Sumedang, followed by 1,000 kg of NaCl over Saguling Reservoir and another 1,000 kg of NaCl over the northern waters of Karawang.

Following the operation, Abdul Muhari confirmed that no rainfall occurred in Jakarta and nearby areas, suggesting that the cloud seeding was successful in reducing rainfall intensity.

The success led to eight additional flights on Saturday to support disaster response in West Java province, he added.

The recent floods in Indonesia’s metropolitan area, including Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi, and parts of Banten province, have affected over 120,000 people.

Heavy rainfall caused rivers like the Ciliwung and Cikeas, originating from the Puncak highlands in Bogor, West Java, to overflow, inundating urban areas before flowing into Jakarta Bay.

-- BERNAMA