OMC Performed Three Times Sorti Commemoration

Officers transport salt (NaCl) to be smeared at OMC in Jakarta, Saturday (15/3/2025). BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The Weather Modification Operation (OMC) on the fifth day in the DKI Jakarta area was carried out by three salt seeding sorties (NaCl) to anticipate hydrometeorological disasters including floods.

This is to respond to the forecast of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) that the potential for rain on March 16-18 in the Jakarta area increases.

"Based on daily rain predictions, tomorrow for the next 3 days it tends to experience an increase in rainfall intensity," said BMKG Weather Modification Governance Director Budi Harsoyo in Jakarta, Saturday.

Budi said that there was an increase in the potential for rain with light to heavy intensity on March 16-18, 2025 in the DKI Jakarta, Banten and West Java areas.

"For March 16, 2025, it is estimated that rain has the potential to fall in the afternoon until the evening," he said.

Chairman of the DKI BPBD Logistics and Equipment Subgroup as well as Spokesperson for OMC Jakarta in 2025, Michael Sitanggang, said that the fifth day of operation took place as many as three sorties.

According to him, the fifth day of mission was successfully carried out as many as three sorties using 2.4 tons of higroscopic season materials with three seeding locations. Higroscopic is the ability of a substance to absorb water vapor from the environment, either through absorption or adsorption.

"Serti 1 is in the southwest of Bogor and Lebak, Sorti 2 is in the northwestern area of Cilegon City, Serang, Sunda Strait Waters and in Sori 3 is in the southwest area of Pandeglang Banten, Lebak Regency, Sunda Strait Waters," he said.

Phase 3 of OMC Jakarta, which began on March 11, has lasted as many as 12 sorties using 9.6 tons of material with a total flight hours of 25 hours 50 minutes.

Michael appealed to the public to remain vigilant against possible impacts from extreme weather, such as puddles and potential flooding at several vulnerable points.

"We continue to monitor the development of information from the BMKG to ensure the safety and comfort of the community," he said.