INDONESIA EXTENDS WEATHER MODIFICATION OPERATIONS IN RIAU TO CURB FIRE RISK

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, May 8 (Bernama) -- Indonesia will extend its weather modification operation in Riau province by five days starting Thursday to dampen fire-prone areas, the country’s disaster agency said.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said the extension comes as rainclouds remain present over the region, allowing for continued cloud-seeding to prevent forest and land fires.

Between May 1 and May 7, BNPB deployed a caravan aircraft to disperse 5.6 tonnes of sodium chloride (NaCl) into the atmosphere in a bid to wet peatlands and refill water reservoirs.

“As of Wednesday, no forest or land fires were reported in Riau province. Aerial surveillance also detected no hotspots in high-risk areas,” BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement.

He said the weather modification initiative follows an April 28 coordination meeting on wildfire prevention and is part of broader emergency preparedness for haze-related disasters in the region.

BNPB is overseeing the operation at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Riau with support of the Meteorological, Climatological, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU).

The extended effort reflects Indonesia’s ongoing commitment to addressing transboundary haze pollution, a shared environmental challenge with notable health and ecological impacts in the region.

-- BERNAMA