Jakarta (ANTARA) – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is preparing a weather modification operation as an additional measure to induce rainfall and accelerate efforts to extinguish forest and land fires on Mount Bromo, East Java.
BNPB Head Suharyanto on Thursday said the measure is being prepared alongside the deployment of aerial firefighting support.
“In addition to water bombing, BNPB is preparing weather modification, with its implementation to be adjusted depending on weather conditions and operational needs on the ground,” he stated.
Suharyanto said the integrated aerial firefighting operation is intended to strengthen the joint ground team, whose efforts have been hampered by the steep cliffs surrounding the Bromo Caldera.
The large-scale emergency response follows the declaration of a drought and forest and land fire emergency alert by the East Java Provincial Government under Governor’s Decree Number 100.3.3.1/327/013/2026.
The provincial emergency alert remains in effect for 180 days, from May 26 to October 6, 2026.
To strengthen the legal framework for the affected area, the Probolinggo District Government has also issued District Head Decree Number 300.2/326/426.32/2026 on the forest and land fire emergency alert, which remains in effect until October 5, 2026.
According to Suharyanto, the emergency alert enables the central government to deploy additional resources, ranging from helicopter fleets to weather modification technology.
The weather modification operation and water-bombing helicopters are expected to reach isolated hotspots, helping prevent the fires from spreading to other conservation forest areas.
To support the operation, BNPB has urged all parties to remain vigilant during the peak of the dry season and to comply with the temporary closure of tourist areas within Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS), allowing the joint team to carry out firefighting operations more effectively.
As of Thursday morning, the wildfire had burned approximately 60 hectares of land in the Mount Bromo area.
The affected area spans the administrative regions of Probolinggo District and Malang District.
In Probolinggo District, the fire burned approximately 10 hectares in the Watu Gede area of Sariwani Village, Sukapura Sub-district.
In Malang District, the wildfire consumed approximately 50 hectares in the Jantur area of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS).
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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