BNPB Performs TMC In South Sulawesi Reduces The Potential For Hydrometerological Disasters

BNPB conducts Weather Modification Technology (TMC) for 11 days (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) carried out Weather Modification Technology (TMC) for 11 days, from 12-22 January 2023 in South Sulawesi to reduce the potential for hydrometeorological disasters.

TMC is an approach or technique to reduce rain using sodium chloride (NaCl) ingredients that are transported and scattered into cloud seeds by plane.

Director of Emergency Resources Support, Rustian National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) in Makassar, Sunday said that the mitigation of hydrometeorological disasters in South Sulawesi deployed a unit of firecraft with the Cessna Grand Caravan 208 aircraft with registration PK-SNM.

"The implementation is based on data from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) by observing the weather and clouds. This depends on the situation, the study can be 900 Kg to 1 ton per flight. At least 800 kilograms," said Rustian, quoting Antara.

The aircraft used can fly in two hours, which means by naming 800 - 1,000 kg per sort, which in a day can make up to three flights. A total of 16,500 kg of material has been distributed.

"Flights of seeding are directed at the northwest, west and southwest sides to dispel potential clouds leading to the mainland," he said.

These potential clouds are raining over the waters of the Makassar Strait so that they can reduce the amount of rainfall that enters the mainland.

This weather modification technique was first implemented in South Sulawesi. It is hoped that it can mitigate floods, abrasion and landslides in the South Sulawesi region.

Previously, the Governor of South Sulawesi Andi Sudirman Sulaiman sent a request from TMC to BNPB in order to reduce the risk of hydrometeorological disasters and has been going on for 11 days and has been closed on Sunday, January 22, 2023.

The implementation of TMC previously targeted Java for Christmas and New Year. South Sulawesi Province itself is the first province outside Java.

"Alhamdulillah, with good coordination, we can carry out this TMC activity as an effort to reduce the risk of hydrometereological disasters in South Sulawesi," said the Governor of South Sulawesi.

For this reason, Andi Sudirman expressed his gratitude to BNPB, BPBD South Sulawesi, BMKG, BRIN, Hasanuddin Makassar Air Base and PT Songo Aviasi Indonesia (SAI) and PT Smart Cakrawala Aviation operators.

Head of the South Sulawesi Regional Disaster Management Agency Amson Padolo said the data released at the beginning was that from January 12 to 21, South Sulawesi was in the extreme zone.

"According to TMC results, we are able to get through extreme weather, so we can avoid the dangers related to hydrometeorological disasters," Amson said.