Government carries out weather modification to counter extreme weather in Java and Bali

Jakarta — The government has today begun operations in several regions to tackle extreme weather in parts of West Java, Central Java and Bali, with several areas still monitored. BMKG head Teuku Faisal Fathani told a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday that the agency has coordinated with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and several local governments on the implementation of weather modification operations to address potential extreme weather, including an increase in rainfall. ‘With BNPB and also with the provincial governments that, from today, in order to anticipate the extreme weather, BMKG and BNPB will commence weather modification operations in West Java, Central Java and Bali. This starts today,’ said Teuku Faisal Fathani. ‘Then for DKI Jakarta it will also be monitored, and if necessary the BPBD in DKI Jakarta will fund the weather modification operations,’ he added. Regarding the extreme weather in several parts of Indonesia in recent times, officials said it is caused by the emergence of cyclones 90S and 93S south of Java and around the Indian Ocean. The impact of these cyclones is increased rainfall, including in parts of Java, Bali up to Nusa Tenggara. He said the OMC is undertaken based on the situation in specific areas to reduce rainfall by 20 to 40 per cent. ‘The aim is that the land itself becomes more prepared or the impacts of hydrometeorological disasters can be reduced,’ he said. He urged all relevant parties to continue to maintain drainage, carry out river normalisation and safeguard the embankments. ‘If we forecast that conditions will continue to occur for several more days, we will carry out further measures,’ said Teuku Faisal Fathani.