BNPB Deploys Technological Aircraft To Modify Forest And Land Fire Emergency Alert Weather

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) supports efforts to deal with forest and land fires (karhutla) in West Kalimantan Province (Kalbar) by deploying one aircraft to carry out Weather Modification Technology (TMC).

BNPB Emergency Resources Support Director Rustian said TMC was a follow-up to the request of the local regional head, due to the determination of emergency alert status in dealing with potential smoke disasters due to forest and land fires.

"Based on the results of the meeting, it is concluded that the TMC activities will be held for 15 days, from May 24, 2023 to June 7, 2023," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, May 25.

The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of West Kalimantan held an online meeting on May 19 which was attended by representatives of ministries and institutions, including the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM), the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the West Kalimantan Province BPBD, and Supadio Pontianak Air Base.

The Governor of West Kalimantan has declared an emergency status for the smoke disaster in his area and this effort is a preparedness for the potential forest and land fires that occur in West Kalimantan.

Rustian, who was also appointed as Acting (Plt) of the Main Secretary of BNPB, said that TMC aims to wet the land so that it can prevent forest and land fires.

"The TMC operation to wet the land will be effective if it is carried out in a period where the growth of rain clouds is still quite significant, so the best time that can be done is before entering the peak period of the dry season," said Rustian.

The plane for the TMC arrived in Pontianak on May 23, 2023.

Meanwhile, TMC's readiness has been reviewed by Deputy II for Human Development of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Abetnego Panca Putra Tarigan together with Danlanud Supadio and Head of Sub-Directorate for Support for Logistics and Equipment of BNPB.

KSP appreciates BNPB for supporting the emergency alert for the smoke disaster due to forest and land fires in West Kalimantan.

On the inaugural flight today, May 25, 2023, the Cesna C-28B aircraft carried out flights with an altitude of 10,500 feet and seeded clouds north of Ketapang Regency. So far, the TMC operation has spent 800 kg of material semai.

In its implementation, the TMC activities are under the control of the Air Operations Task Force for the Task Force for Handling Smoked Disasters Due to Forest And Land Fires in coordination with BPBD Kalbar and BMKG, as well as supervised by TMC experts from BRIN.