inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) announced that 15 aircraft have been deployed to carry out weather modification operations (OMC) in Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and South Sumatra to assist in the handling of wildfires.
"OMC are being carried out on a massive scale. This is probably one of the largest operations ever conducted in Indonesia," said BMKG Head Teuku Faisal Fathani at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Monday (10/26/2026).
He said the operation is expected to raise the chances of rain to help extinguish the fires, especially in South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan, which are still experiencing high levels of fires.
Faisal stated that the potential for cloud formation in Central Kalimantan has been quite high for five days since Monday. Meanwhile, the potential for cloud formation in South Sumatra is expected to increase from Tuesday for the next five days.
"We will work hard to extinguish the fires as best we can, especially in two provinces that currently still have a high fire rate, namely South Sumatra and Central Kalimantan," he said.
He explained that the OMC was carried out in accordance with the direction of President Prabowo Subianto and Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Sugiono, involving the BMKG, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Ministry of Forestry, and the Indonesian National Military (TNI).
In this operation, he said, the BMKG used a combination of dry ice and sodium chloride (NaCl) or salt to promote rain formation. The operation was also supported by Hercules aircraft, CN-295 aircraft, and other TNI aircraft.
The BMKG also prepared weekly mapping until the end of November to identify areas at very high and high risk of fire. This mapping will help determine priority areas for forest and land fire prevention efforts.
"We have prepared the data weekly until the end of November. We have also mapped sub-districts with the potential for fires at very high and high risk levels," he said.
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