BMKG Deploys 15 Aircraft for Cloud-Seeding Operations in Three Provinces

Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has deployed 15 aircraft to conduct weather-modification operations in Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan and South Sumatra. The operations are intended to support efforts to tackle forest and land fires.

“The weather-modification operation is now being carried out on a large scale. This may be one of the biggest operations ever conducted in Indonesia,” BMKG chief Teuku Faisal Fathani said at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday (26 October 2026).

He said nine aircraft were operating in Central and South Kalimantan, while the other six had been deployed to South Sumatra. BMKG hopes the operation will increase the likelihood of rain throughout this week.

Faisal said cloud seeding was expected to help extinguish fires, particularly in South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan, where fire activity remained high.

He added that the potential for cloud formation in Central Kalimantan was forecast to be high for five days from Monday. In South Sumatra, the potential was expected to rise from Tuesday and remain elevated for the following five days.

“We will work hard to extinguish as many of the fires as possible, particularly in the two provinces that still have high levels of fire activity: South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan,” he said.

Faisal said the operations were being conducted in accordance with instructions from President Prabowo Subianto and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Sugiono. BMKG is working with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the Ministry of Forestry and the Indonesian Military (TNI).

BMKG is using a combination of dry ice and sodium chloride (NaCl), or salt, to help clouds produce rain. The operation is also supported by Hercules and CN-295 aircraft, as well as other aircraft belonging to the TNI.

BMKG has also prepared weekly maps through the end of November to identify areas at very high and high risk of fire. The maps will guide the selection of priority areas for preventing forest and land fires.

“We have prepared the data week by week through the end of November. We have also mapped sub-districts at very high and high risk of fire,” he said.