Two Water-Bombing Helicopters and Cloud Seeding Deployed to Extinguish Tangerang Landfill Fire

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has deployed two water-bombing helicopters to tackle the fire at the Jatiwaringin Final Disposal Site (TPA) in Mauk, Tangerang Regency, which has been burning since Tuesday (30/6).

Brigadier General TNI Djohan Darmawan, Director of Operations Control Coordination at BNPB, stated in Tangerang on Wednesday that two MI-8AMT helicopters, with registration RA-22834, were repositioned from Jambi Province and are now being deployed to the location for firefighting operations. He noted that one of the helicopters has a water-carrying capacity of up to 4,000 litres to drop directly onto the hotspots.

"BNPB is currently being assisted by two water-bombing helicopter units, one of which is already at Pondok Cabe Airport, and the other is en route from Jambi," he explained. He said the two helicopters will operate by releasing water bombs directly onto the waste mounds, focusing on the peak of the pile where flames and smoke plumes are still emerging, with hotspots suspected to be inside.

"There is a small lake next to the TPA. We will draw water from there, so it can be done quickly. Hopefully, this can be moved to the location for action soon," he said.

In addition, Djohan explained that the firefighting operation scheme involves water spraying for cooling along the lower side from the north to the south of the TPA, carried out by personnel from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the local police.

"Reaching the fire hotspots is not feasible because the unstable conditions pose a risk. The pile of garbage endangers the personnel from the fire department, TNI, and police," he revealed.

Furthermore, BNPB together with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) will prepare a special aircraft for a Weather Modification Technology (TMC) operation to help accelerate the extinguishing process, so that this emergency situation can be brought under control. "We need clouds to seed with salt. So, both central and regional measures will not leave this unattended. We must respond quickly," he said.

To date, the extent of the fire at the Jatiwaringin TPA has reached approximately 15 hectares. Previously, on Tuesday (30/6), the fire had affected five hectares, indicating significant spread. "Colleagues from the community health centre, the sub-district head, and the local village head are still struggling and monitoring the situation," he said.

The authorities have now raised the status of the Jatiwaringin TPA fire response from alert to emergency response to optimise handling efforts on the ground. "We have determined that this has entered the emergency category. This is because it concerns public health issues and the risk of the fire continuing to spread," he stated. The status upgrade was based on the results of an evaluation meeting on the TPA fire disaster management with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Environmental and Hygiene Agency (DLHK), and other relevant agencies. Consequently, since 30 June 2026, through a decree by the Tangerang Regent on disaster management, the status has been elevated to emergency response. "This is a consideration because the impact is certainly smoke. This smoke is carried by the wind and is very close to residential areas," he said.