Smoke Billows as Crews Battle Fires and Conduct Weather Operations

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has summarised reports of disaster incidents for the period Sunday to Monday, 23–24 August 2026. Conditions and efforts to handle land fires in Nabire Regency, Central Papua, Sunday (23/8/2026).

BNPB revealed that forest and land fires (karhutla) are still occurring in a number of regions in Indonesia and continue to be handled through ground and aerial operations. In addition to karhutla, BNPB also recorded drought incidents affecting the fulfilment of clean water needs for communities.

A number of karhutla incidents were reported from various regions with varying extents and handling conditions. Strengthening of ground and aerial operations, including Weather Modification Operations (OMC), is being carried out to handle karhutla in West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and Jambi.

OMC is carried out in coordination with BMKG to ensure the most effective timing for conducting OMC operations in affected areas.

Water bombing operations for extinguishing karhutla in Ketapang Regency, West Kalimantan. Water bombing operations for extinguishing karhutla in Central Kalimantan. Efforts to extinguish karhutla by ground task forces in the Central Kalimantan region, Sunday (23/8).

OMC was implemented to encourage cloud growth in the West Kalimantan region during the period 22–27 August 2026. On Sunday (23/8), three sorties with a total of 3,000 kg of seeding material were carried out to encourage the growth of rain clouds in areas potentially affected by karhutla. One patrol fleet unit was also deployed to monitor affected areas.