Flood-Longsor Points In South Sulawesi Are Expected To Rain Again, BNPB Considers Weather Modification

The weather modification technology (TMC) pilot team prepared salt (Nacl) that was poured into the Central Java sky to reduce the potential impact of the flood disaster, Saturday, April 16, 2024. (ANTARA-HO-BNPB).

SOUTH SULAWESI - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is considering the use of weather modification technology (TMC) to facilitate efforts to deal with the impact of flood disasters accompanied by landslides in South Sulawesi (Sulsel).

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said that the weather analysis in the next week is predicted that moderate to heavy rain will flush a number of areas affected by floods and landslides, such as Luwu Regency, Soppeng, Enrekang, and other areas of South Sulawesi.

The potential for moderate to heavy rain or more than 150-200 mm which has the potential to hit South Sulawesi cannot be separated from the results of the BMKG analysis which reported the formation of tropical cyclone seeds in the southern part of the Banda Sea.

BNPB assesses that such weather conditions will further complicate efforts to deal with the impact of disasters in South Sulawesi. Starting from the distribution of logistical assistance to the evacuation of victims who have so far relied on a helicopter fleet, because land access cannot be passed, especially this condition occurred in Luwu Regency.

Therefore, according to him, TMC operations that function to reduce or shift the potential of rain clouds from South Sulawesi to other areas will be considered.

"We have coordinated with BMKG, BRIN, TNI and other parties, just wait, if TMC is needed, the local government will propose it," said Abdul in Jakarta, Tuesday, May 7, as quoted by Antara.

The TMC operation is considered effective enough to reduce the potential for rain from an area, according to him, this has been proven based on the experience of handling the impact of flood disasters in Demak-Kudus, Central Java some time ago.

Previously, Luwu Regency became the area that was reported to have experienced the impact of floods accompanied by landslides with the largest compared to other areas, on Friday, May 3 in the morning.

BNPB noted that until at least Sunday, May 5, 3,479 families of disaster victims who incidentally needed logistical assistance in the area.

Each victim is spread across 54 villages located in 12 sub-districts, namely Latimojong, Suli, West Sulawesi, South Ponrang, Ponrang, Bupon, Larompong, South Larompong, Bajo, West Bajo, Kamanre, Belopa, and North Belopa Districts

Because the terrain and land access conditions are not yet open, logistical assistance in the form of food and medicine weighing one ton for disaster victims to Pajang Village, Latimojong, Luwu, has become the first aid that has been successfully distributed using the Carakal H-225M helicopter belonging to the Indonesian Air Force since the disaster occurred.