Forest and Land Fires in West Aceh and Nagan Raya Spread, BNPB Conducts Weather Modification Operation

Forest and land fires in Aceh Province, specifically in West Aceh and Nagan Raya regencies, have continued to spread. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has partnered with PT Smart Cakrawala Aviation to carry out a weather modification operation (OMC) in an effort to prevent the fires from spreading further in both areas.

“This cloud seeding operation is being deployed as part of disaster response efforts in West Aceh and Nagan Raya,” said the Acting Head of the West Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Teuku Ronal, in Meulaboh on Saturday (25/7).

The weather modification operation will focus on areas with the potential to trigger the formation or thickening of rain clouds.

He explained that the seeding mission targets West Aceh and Nagan Raya within a blocking area spanning radial 120-210/50-120 NM at a bearing of 140 from Banda Aceh.

“The operation is planned to disperse 1,000 kg (1 tonne) of sodium chloride (NaCl) salt,” he said.

The first sortie was carried out using a Cessna C208 aircraft registered PK-SNM. The aircraft took off from Sultan Iskandar Muda Airport (BTJ) in Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar Regency.

Seeding was conducted at cruising altitudes of between 8,000 and 12,000 feet.

“The seeding of one tonne of NaCl was carried out at the ideal altitude of 8,000-12,000 feet to ensure optimal distribution of the salt chloride within the clouds,” he said.

The OMC strategy is expected to effectively support the acceleration of weather and hydrometeorological recovery in western Aceh.

Meanwhile, the West Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) recorded that the area burned across four districts in the region has reached 12.5 hectares, covering Johan Pahlawan, Samatiga, Meureubo and West Woyla districts.