BNPB Conducts Weather Modification Operations in South Sumatra to Suppress Hotspots

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has once again launched a Weather Modification Operation (OMC) in South Sumatra (Sumsel) for seven days from 4 to 10 August 2026 in order to suppress the surge in hotspots.

BNPB Head Suharyanto, in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday, said the emergency measure was taken after the number of hotspots detected by NASA’s NOAA20 satellite jumped from 46 points on 2 August to 104 points on 3 August 2026.

“The OMC is one of the efforts to support the handling of forest and land fires in six priority provinces that have extensive peatland, where fires are difficult to extinguish if a massive blaze occurs,” he said.

Suharyanto explained that the implementation of the OMC is a direct follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s instructions during a limited meeting at the Merdeka Palace on 28 July 2026 concerning anticipation of the dry season and the El Nino phenomenon.

The BNPB’s Operations Control Directorate confirmed that the OMC is being centred at Sri Mulyono Herlambang Air Force Base in Palembang, with full support from the Indonesian Air Force, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and the South Sumatra Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

On the first day of implementation, Tuesday (4/8), the seeding aircraft successfully carried out one flight sortie, dispersing 1,000 kilograms of seeding material over the Ogan Komering Ilir and Ogan Ilir regencies.

The salt (NaCl) seeding using the fixed-wing aircraft proved effective in triggering light-intensity rainfall over the affected areas.

“Going forward, regional governments, communities, and businesses in the forestry and agriculture sectors are urged to enhance synergy and early prevention so that no land burning is carried out,” Suharyanto added.