BNPB Conducts Weather Modification Operation for Jambi Forest Fire Emergency

RRI.CO.ID, Jambi – The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) begun a weather modification operation in Jambi as the province enters a drier period and faces a higher risk of forest and land fires. The operation was launched after weather monitoring showed that rainfall in most parts of Jambi would start to decline in the first ten-day period of June, in line with the arrival of the dry season.

The condition has raised concern over possible forest and land fires, locally known as karhutla. The Jambi Provincial Government had earlier declared a forest and land fire emergency alert status, effective from April 27 until the end of November 2026.

Following the alert status, Jambi Governor requested BNPB’s support to carry out weather modification operations in the province. The operation is being conducted from June 5 to June 12, 2026. It aims to support early prevention efforts, reduce fire risks, and minimize the possible impact of forest and land fires during the dry season.

In an official statement on Sunday, June 7, 2026, the Agency reported that operation in Jambi involves the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and the Indonesian Air Force. The operation is centered at Sultan Thaha Airport in Jambi.

The aircraft and weather modification materials arrived in Jambi on Friday, June 5. On the same day, one flight sortie was carried out by seeding one ton of salt into clouds that had the potential to grow into rain clouds.

The first operation covered areas around Tanjung Jabung Barat, Tanjung Jabung Timur, and Muaro Jambi Regencies. After the operation, rain was recorded in Tanjung Jabung Barat and Muaro Jambi.

On Saturday, June 6, another weather modification sortie was conducted over Tanjung Jabung Barat Regency. Rain was again observed in the area after the cloud seeding operation.

BNPB stated the weather modification support is part of its commitment to handling forest and land fires in six priority provinces, including Jambi. BNPB Head, Suharyanto, had conveyed the commitment during the 2026 forest and land fire preparedness roll call at Griya Agung, Palembang, South Sumatra, on May 6, 2026.

At the time, Suharyanto, said BNPB was ready to support aerial operations, including weather modification, in the six priority provinces when requested by governors as part of central government support.

"The measures taken to address forest and land fires combine prevention and suppression efforts. Fire suppression operations focus on ground task forces once fires have already occurred. Before fires spread widely, weather modification operations need to be carried out to wet peatlands, making them harder to burn. If fires do occur, they will be easier to extinguish," Lieutenant General Suharyanto said at the time.

As the dry season may worsen smoke haze caused by forest and land fires, BNPB has again reminded all parties to follow Presidential Instruction Number 3 of 2020 on forest and land fire management. BNPB also urged local governments, communities, forestry companies, and agricultural businesses to work together in strengthening early prevention.