Facing Forest Fire Risks, Government Readies Land, Air Task Forces and Weather Modification Operations

The government continues to strengthen its preparedness for potential forest and land fires (karhutla), which risk increasing as the El Niño phenomenon coincides with the dry season. Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) emphasised this following a limited meeting led by President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday (28/7/2026). The meeting was attended by members of the Red and White Cabinet, the Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Chief of the National Police, and heads of relevant agencies. AHY explained that, based on a presentation by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), there are trends that need to be anticipated, particularly in several regions that are prone to hotspots. “We know that in several provinces, such as Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and a number of other provinces, whether on peatland or non-peatland, hotspots frequently appear and must be anticipated immediately,” AHY clarified. To address this, the government is preparing integrated measures through Land Task Forces, Air Task Forces, and weather modification operations (OMC) to accelerate the handling of hotspots while maintaining water availability in dams, reservoirs, and lakes. AHY wants to ensure the government is ready with task forces, both land and air, including by carrying out weather modification operations. “I repeat, through weather modification operations with a methodology that is expected to quickly extinguish hotspots, including weather modification operations to ensure water levels in our dams, reservoirs, and lakes remain in a safe status,” AHY stated. AHY added that weather modification operations will continue to be optimised by leveraging technological developments to make their implementation more effective and efficient. The government is also continuously strengthening collaboration across ministries, agencies, regional governments, the TNI, the National Police, and all stakeholders in facing the potential impacts of El Niño. “What is clear is that President Prabowo Subianto is very concerned and has given tactical directives to all levels so that everyone is ready, including regional governments,” AHY concluded.