However, fleet deployment must still take into account visibility, smoke conditions, weather, and aviation safety standards,
Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is stepping up weather modification operations to help combat forest and land fires in Kalimantan.
“The implementation is also supported by ground-based firefighting, patrols, early detection, and coordination among ministries, agencies, and regional governments,” Head of the Bureau of Public Relations and Foreign Cooperation at the Ministry of Forestry Ristianto Pribadi said on Friday.
He explained that weather modification is part of an integrated strategy to control forest and land fires by increasing the likelihood of rainfall and wetting fire-prone areas.
In West Kalimantan, the operation was carried out from Aug. 13 to 17, 2026, with nine sorties and an estimated rainfall volume of 10.92 million cubic meters over the cloud-seeding area.
The latest weather forecast indicates another opportunity for weather modification from Aug. 23 to 27, 2026. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is currently coordinating with relevant parties to ensure the operation can be carried out in West Kalimantan during that period.
In Central Kalimantan, the operation was conducted during two periods: July 27 to Aug. 4 and Aug. 11 to 15, 2026. The operations involved 13 sorties, with an estimated rainfall volume of approximately 4.8 million cubic meters over the cloud-seeding area.
“However, through the end of August 2026, weather conditions in Central Kalimantan are predicted to remain predominantly dry, with limited cloud growth and rainfall,” Pribadi said.
Meanwhile, in South Kalimantan, weather conditions, hotspots, and forest and land fires continue to be closely monitored. Opportunities for weather modification will be assessed based on the availability of suitable clouds and the need for ground-based fire management.
According to Pribadi, weather modification operations in these provinces are only one component of the government’s broader forest and land fire control strategy. Ground-based firefighting remains a priority, alongside integrated patrols, cooling operations, the deployment of additional personnel and equipment, and measures to prevent fires from spreading.
The government has also strengthened its aerial fleet to support forest and land fire response, with air operations assisting ground teams, particularly in reaching hotspots that are difficult or impossible to access by land. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has also coordinated directly with the Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to increase aerial support for water-bombing operations in Central Kalimantan.
“The additional fleet is expected to increase operational reach, especially in hard-to-reach locations that require aerial water application. However, fleet deployment must still take into account visibility, smoke conditions, weather, and aviation safety standards,” Pribadi said.
Dense smoke over the past two days has presented challenges for air operations, particularly around Jabiren and Tanjung Taruna, as well as in the Sebangau National Park area. The smoke has reduced pilots’ visibility of targets and flight paths.
However, Pribadi emphasized that limited air operations did not halt the response. When cloud conditions were unsuitable for weather modification or visibility was insufficient for safe water-bombing operations, ground teams continued firefighting, creating firebreaks, wetting and cooling affected areas, and protecting vulnerable locations.
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Translator: Tri Meilani A, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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