Natuna Regency Government Conducts Weather Modification and Water Bombing to Address Forest and Land Fires

Natuna (ANTARA) - The Natuna Regency Government (Pemkab Natuna), Riau Islands Province, is undertaking efforts to extinguish forest and land fires (karhutla) and drought through weather modification operations and water bombing.

The Head of the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Natuna Regency, Raja Darmika, confirmed from Batam on Monday that the weather modification operation is scheduled for Tuesday (31/3), adjusted to the arrival of required materials in Natuna. The weather modification activity will utilise a Skytrack-type aircraft.

Meanwhile, water bombing is scheduled for the same day, or postponed to Wednesday (1/4) if necessary, using a helicopter. Both vehicles are already in Natuna, specifically at the Raden Sadjad Air Force Base (Lanud RSA) Natuna.

“The priority point for water bombing is the Batubi area (Bunguran Batubi Subdistrict). For weather modification, it has not yet been determined as it is still in the monitoring phase of cloud movement by BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency),” she said.

Both pieces of equipment are support from the central government, following a request letter from Pemkab Natuna for weather modification and water bombing operations.

The request was made because in recent days, the area of forest and land burned in the region has reached hundreds of hectares, and local equipment is insufficient to handle it.

The measures involve various parties, including the TNI, Polri, and BMKG, and are expected to accelerate the handling of karhutla and prevent fires in Natuna from spreading further, as several fire points are still monitored in various areas.

“Weather modification will be carried out by the air operations team to assist the extinguishing process,” she said.