Weather Modification Operations In Central Java Extended Until March 27

The atmosphere of Jalan Pantura Timur Demak-Kudus looks hot and the sky is also sunny, which was possible because previously there was a weather modification technology operation (TMC), Sunday (24/3/2024). BETWEEN/Akhmad Nazaruddin Lathif.

Acting Governor of Central Java Nana Sudjana revealed that weather modification technology (TMC) operations to reduce the impact of flooding in Central Java Province will be extended until March 27, 2024. "The weather modification or TMC has indeed paid off, because in the last few days there has been no rain," he said during a working visit in Demak, Antara, Sunday, March 24. The extension of the TMC operation aims to ensure that when the repair of the embankment is broken, it is not affected by the weather. Moreover, the embankment that has been successfully closed, further strengthening is carried out. Floods that occurred in Demak Regency and its surroundings, he said, were indeed influenced by extreme weather from March 8-18, 2024. Incidentally, Demak Regency was in the lowlands, while rain fell in the upper areas, such as in the Kendeng Mountains in the Blora and Rembang areas and its surroundings. "When it rains with high intensity in the Kendeng Mountains, the water runs into the river and enters the Wulan River. In fact, Grobogan Regency is also affected by extreme weather due to flooding inundating the city, then Demak and Kudus are also affected," he said. With this high intensity of rain, it also caused a surge in river water discharge, such as in the Wulan River, which caused the embankment to collapse. Meanwhile, most of the residential areas are under the embankment. "We, the provincial and district governments, are taking evacuation steps and preparing refugee camps. The central government also pays attention. We also need to take steps so that the embankment does not collapse again," he said. He noted that from a number of broken river embankments, there were four points that had a fairly large impact. Three points of the embankment collapsed, including in Grobogan Regency and one point in Karanganyar District, Demak Regency. All the embankments have collapsed, now they have been handled by the Ministry of PUPR and all of them have been closed, so that the floods have also begun to recede. In order to strengthen the embankment, as long as the work is tried there will be no rain so that weather modifications are carried out.

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto when visiting the Wulan River embankment, which broke down, said that the extension of the TMC operation until March 20, 2024. Because it was considered successful, there were efforts to extend it until March 27, 2024.