Palangka Raya (ANTARA) – Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni said Weather Modification Operation (OMC) would be an ideal measure to tackle forest and land fires in Petuk Katimpun, Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan.
“The ideal measure would actually be weather modification operations if there are seedable clouds,” the minister said on Wednesday while inspecting the forest and land fire site in Petuk Katimpun, Palangka Raya.
The minister, who was monitoring response efforts by a joint team in the area, said he had coordinated with the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB) and the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG).
If conditions for cloud formation are suitable, says Raja Juli, the OMC would be conducted.
“If there are even small clouds that can technically be seeded, we will conduct OMC,” he said.
Response efforts have often been hampered by limited water sources at fire sites. Therefore, various measures are being taken to tackle the fires as effectively as possible.
The minister added that, in addition to OMC, firefighting efforts were being supported by an aerial task force using several water-bombing helicopters.
Ground operations are also being carried out by a joint task force comprising personnel from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), Manggala Agni, and local communities.
Regarding limited water sources, the minister said the ministry had received suggestions to increase the number of bore wells.
“One of the challenges is the availability of water. We have received suggestions to increase the number of bore wells and other water sources,” he said.
According to data from the Central Kalimantan Forest and Land Fire Disaster Emergency Response Command Post as of August 18, 2026, at least 1,464 forest and land fire incidents had been recorded since January, with a total burned area of 3,896.43 hectares.
After inspecting the fires in Petuk Katimpun, the minister, accompanied by the Central Kalimantan governor and other officials, continued the inspection at another location in Tumbang Nusa, Pulang Pisau District.
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Translator: Bayu Prasetyo
Editor: Primayanti
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