BNPB Considers Cloud Seeding to Tackle Tangerang Landfill Fire

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is considering a long-term handling option through Weather Modification Operations (OMC) in the form of artificial rain to tackle the fire at the Jatiwaringin landfill in Tangerang Regency, Banten. Djohan Darmawan, Director of Emergency Operations Control Coordination at BNPB, stated in Jakarta on Wednesday that his party has been coordinating regularly with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) since the beginning of the incident to engineer the weather. However, Djohan emphasised that BNPB and BMKG will continue to monitor atmospheric dynamics intensively and will immediately apply for cloud seeding permits once the meteorological conditions in the area meet the technical requirements. The operations control team reported that by the seventh day, Tuesday (7/7), the joint cross-agency firefighting operation had shown significant progress, reaching nearly 49 to 50 percent containment. Djohan conveyed that the success in localising the hotspots was the fruit of solid mutual cooperation in the field between BNPB, relevant ministries, local governments, the TNI-Polri, and the private sector, all united to accelerate the recovery of the area. To overcome the challenges of difficult terrain and hotspots unreachable by ground hoses, BNPB has deployed four water-bombing helicopter units to strengthen tactical handling from the air. Meanwhile, on the ground, mechanical teams created breakthrough access roads on the north and south sides to facilitate the movement of fire engines, as well as constructing emergency water retention ponds to address high-altitude areas. Water is channelled through six to eight lanes of fire hoses, including injecting special chemical liquids into the waste mound zones to control hidden embers containing gas beneath the surface. ‘This collaboration from all existing agencies is showing progress. Currently, it has reached 49 percent, and we continue to focus on cooling,’ said Djohan.