East Java Disaster Management Agency and Juanda BMKG Modify Weather to Anticipate Extreme Conditions

Surabaya (ANTARA) – East Java’s Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) in collaboration with the Juanda Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has conducted weather modification operations across multiple regions to anticipate extreme weather conditions.

The Executive Head (Kalaksa) of East Java BPBD, Gatot Soebroto, stated in Surabaya on Tuesday that the initial phase of weather modification operations deployed aircraft PK-SCJ to target several regions across East Java, ranging from eastern East Java and southern East Java, including Situbondo, Jember and Banyuwangi, to areas such as Tuban and Mojokerto.

“On the first day of operations, three sorties were conducted with a total of 2,800 kilogrammes of calcium oxide seeding material dispersed, with a total flight time of 5 hours and 20 minutes,” he stated.

The first flight conducted cloud seeding operations in the Situbondo region and north of Banyuwangi.

According to him, the weather modification operations also represent East Java provincial government’s service to the public undertaking Lebaran mudik (exodus) and return journeys to ensure smooth travel during the holiday period.

For the second sortie, weather modification operations were conducted in the Tuban region, whilst the third sortie was carried out in the Mojokerto region.

“As previously stated, these weather modification operations will continue for ten days until H+5 Lebaran or 26 March 2026,” he said.