KBRN, Jakarta: The Indonesian government has launched a weather modification operation over flood-hit areas of Sumatra and Aceh to reduce rainfall and accelerate the retreat of floodwaters.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) Pratikno confirmed the intervention, saying it was designed to maximize efficiency in evacuation and aid distribution.

Speaking to the press at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in East Jakarta on Friday, November 28, 2025, Pratikno outlined the climate engineering strategy.

“We are conducting a weather modification operation. Planes have already been deployed to reduce rainfall over the mainland, shifting it toward the ocean,” he said, as reported by the Kemenko PMK official website.

Minister Pratikno explained that the decision was initially prompted by a forecast from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Tropical Cyclone Senyar forming over Sumatra. The cyclone, he noted, is a natural phenomenon marked by extremely high rainfall and severe winds.

Although Cyclone Senyar has since subsided, the government is continuing with the weather control operation to steer rain clouds out to sea. Pratikno added that vigilance remains high against another potential weather system.

“We are currently anticipating the emergence of Cyclone Koto, but its location is to the north of Sumatra Island. We remain alert, and we hope it will not reach Indonesian mainland territory,” he said.

Alongside the weather mitigation efforts, the government is intensifying the delivery of logistical aid to the hardest-hit flood zones in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh. ***