Berau Regency Government conducts weather modification operation until Friday to prevent forest fires spreading
The Berau Regency Government in East Kalimantan is working with relevant parties to carry out a Weather Modification Operation (OMC) as a measure to induce rainfall, both to prevent and to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) so they do not spread further.
The OMC uses a Smart Cakrawala Aviation Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft with registration PK-SNP. The first flight took place on Monday night (24/8), and operations continue today until Friday, or over the next three days.
“We give full support to the implementation of the OMC, including strengthening coordination with the team from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and other relevant parties,” said Berau Regent Sri Juniarsih Mas in Tanjung Redeb on Tuesday.
The OMC began from Kalimarau Airport in Teluk Bayur, with the first take-off on Monday at 20:46 WITA and a flight duration of around 99 minutes on a local route over the Berau area to disperse salt, before landing again at 22:25 WITA.
“This operation is one of the efforts to prevent forest and land fires, especially in facing hot and dry weather conditions that can increase the risk of fire. Meanwhile, other mitigation efforts on the ground also continue, including public education, prevention and handling,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Berau Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Masyhadi Muhdi, said the OMC is scheduled for five days from Monday 24 August to Friday 28 August 2026.
On average, flights for salt dispersal take place twice a day, or 10 times over the five days according to the schedule. The timing of salt seeding depends on weather conditions, so it can be carried out in the morning, afternoon or evening.
If salt is seeded into Cumulonimbus clouds, or clouds that are already mature and saturated with water vapour, it can produce a faster reaction and generate rain.
It also depends on air humidity, taking into account the water vapour content around the dispersal location, which affects the speed at which the salt absorbs water (hygroscopic).
Another factor taken into account, he said, is wind direction and speed, which determine how quickly the seeded clouds shift and drop water droplets over the target area.
The OMC is being held because as of 24 August 2026, 169 forest and land fires have already occurred in Berau, with a total of around 386 hectares of both forest and plantation land burned.