BNPB Performs 271 Weather Modification Technology To Put Out Forest And Land Fires

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto revealed that his party had carried out 271 weather modification technologies (TMC) to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) since April 2023 until now.

"As of today, BNPB has implemented it not only dozens of times, but has implemented TMC for extinguishing and because the rain cloud growth is not significant, only a few times it has succeeded in rain," said Suharyanto in his statement quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 9.

While attending the Special Coordination Meeting for the Improvement of Forest and Land Fire Management Efforts in 2023 at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) Office, Jakarta, Suharyanto explained that BNPB together with ministries and institutions conducted TMC in several priority areas.

"If you look at the data, Riau on October 7 to 12 had rain. Then Jambi, Alhamdulillah, it rained on October 6, 2023. South Kalimantan is worried because Banjarbaru Airport is also around it often burned, but Alhamdulillah yesterday it rained quite heavily on October 8, "he said.

He hopes that the TMC, which is also carried out with significant rainy clouds, can accelerate the blackout of forest and land fires in several areas.

"Hopefully, with the rain assisted by TMC, it can extinguish the fire and smoke," said Suharyanto.

Suharyanto appealed to regional policy makers to be able to apply for needs related to the handling of forest and land fires in their respective regions.

"Regional heads, Pangdam, Kapolda, if they still need it, can also immediately submit it according to the development of conditions in the field," he said.