Jambi Forest Fire Emergency Alert: BNPB Launches Weather Modification Operation
With the first decade of the year projecting a significant decrease in rainfall, Jambi Province is currently on high alert regarding the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla). In response to these conditions, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNKG) has officially launched a Weather Modification Operation (OMC) as a strategic preventive measure.
This step was taken following the establishment of a forest and land fire emergency alert status by the Jambi Provincial Government, effective from 27 April 2026 to 31 November 2026. At the request of the Governor of Jambi, the BNPB initiated the OMC, which is scheduled to take place from 5 June to 12 June 2026.
The operation, which involves collaboration between the BNPB, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and the Indonesian Air Force, is centred at Sultan Thaha Airport, Jambi. The primary focus of cloud seeding is directed at three crucial areas.
Since commencing on Friday (5/6), the team has conducted one flight sortie, seeding one tonne of salt (NaCl) into potential clouds. As a result, rain has been reported to have fallen in the West Tanjung Jabung and Muaro Jambi regions. The operation continued on Saturday (6/6) with similar intensity, which again triggered rainfall in West Tanjung Jabung.
The OMC aims to moisten peatlands to keep them damp, thereby minimising the risk of fires occurring naturally or due to human activity during the dry season.
The Head of BNPB, Lieutenant General TNI Dr Suharyanto, emphasised that Jambi is one of six priority provinces for forest and land fire management in 2026. During a preparedness assembly in Palembang last May, he stressed the importance of combining prevention and suppression.
“Before the fire spreads, it is necessary to carry out Weather Modification Operations to moisten the peat so that it is difficult to burn. If a fire does occur, the wet condition of the land will assist ground task forces in the suppression process,” said Lt. Gen. Suharyanto.
Facing the potential for haze disasters, the BNPB has reiterated the implementation of Presidential Instruction Number 3 of 2020 regarding Forest and Land Fire Management. Local governments, businesses in the forestry and agriculture sectors, and the wider community are urged to strengthen cooperation in early detection and prevention.
This aerial support is expected to maintain ecosystem stability and prevent economic and health losses caused by haze pollution, which frequently haunts the Sumatra region during the dry season.