Limited Time, Bad Weather: BNPB Weather Modification Accelerates Search For Cibeunying Landslide Victims

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi (center) while inspecting the location of the landslide disaster in Cibeunying Village, Majenang District, Cilacap Regency, Sunday (16/11/2025). ANTARA/HO-Central Java Provincial Government

CILACAP - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has begun to carry out weather modification operations to speed up the search for missing victims who are still buried by landslides in Cibeunying Village, Majenang District, Cilacap, Central Java.

This step was taken because the rain in the last few days has continued to hamper the evacuation process.

Deputy for Emergency Management of BNPB Maj. Gen. Budi Irawan said the weather modifications began on Sunday, November 16, involving experts from BMKG on the monitoring plane.

"We hope it will work, because it depends on the wind," said Budi while accompanying the Governor of Central Java, Achmad Luthfi, inspecting the landslide location, quoted from Antara, Sunday, November 16.

According to him, BMKG experts are tasked with identifying the water content in the clouds before seeding is carried out. He is optimistic that the rain can be controlled if the wind direction is in accordance with predictions.

"If it rains the most. But if the wind is beyond predictions, it will rain too," he said.

In an evaluation meeting at the Field Command Post, Central Java Governor Achmad Luthfi said the coordination of all SAR elements continued to be strengthened, especially because the weather was the main obstacle since the first day of the search.

"It has been asked for weather modifications, and has been carried out by BNPB," he said.

Head of Central Java BPBD Bergas Catursasi Penangsian said the limited operating time was a challenge in itself. Search operations can only be carried out between 06.00 a.m. -18.00 p.m. due to the risk of rain and field conditions.

"With the existing evaluation, BNPB carried out weather modification operations in order to reduce rain at the location," he said.

Until the fourth day of the search, Sunday (16/11) at 13.00 WIB, Basarnas had found 10 bodies of landslide victims. About 11 other people are still being searched.